Bloody SATS

[Ledkr]

I know they are important to schools but its madness at dds school. They've gone on and on at them a out it for months, extra homework, extra lessons and generally created a great deal of expectation and stress.
Poor dd gets migraines and they are currently rife due to her worry over sats. She thinks they will impact on her going to her already allocated secondary school.
Then yesterday she came out with a list her teacher had given them. Apparently it's bed early a d a good breakfast (preferably cooked) which obviously all children need everyday.
It seems ott to me but hey.
Anyone got any comparisons?

Hi there:

DDs are in Y5 and Y3 so have this all to look forward (?) to but just wanted to wish everyone good luck.

By the way was I the only one to read from mrz

In past years we have opened the pool before school for a swim or splash around...

Can I just ask - Is this an ordinary state school mrz? I'm suddenly feeling a lot better about the fact that a lot of what you say happens at your school isn't at our ordinary, run of the mill, inner city state school.

Agree with chicaguapa. Completely. I do think some people get a bit excited about testing like it is a new thing and all the fault of the evil league tables but I was tested at 11 35 years ago so there have always been tests.

But I also have to say not all school pile on the pressure. They don't at my boys' school. They are realistic about it. I don't have a child doing them this year but a friend wants to take her yr 6 DS to a footie match (last match of the season, premier league, season ticket holders) and the school have said he should go and not worry about the maths SATs the next day as he is more than capable of doing it. That sort of relaxed attitude won't make them a nightmare for the children.

It does horrify me the lengths some schools go to though. I wouldn't mind betting that the ones who are piling on the pressure aren't the ones rated outstanding or good though. They clearly have something to prove. Maybe they should have worked harder at making sure children have worked hard for all 4 yrs in the Juniors rather than having to cram it all in during yr 6. If the children had been making steady progress there would have been no need for last minute panics.

I also think some parents make it a nightmare for their children by asking them if they are worried, buying extra workbooks and all that. You just don't have to do that. My attitude was to keep a watchful eye bu I would rather my elder DS did as well as he could without cramming and get put in a realistic set at secondary school than to have him cram and fret, do exceptionally well by his standards and then put a set that was too high and where he could struggle and fail.

Dd wasn't nervous but seemed over excited and was loud and bounding about like a Labrador on speed.
She was excited at the prospect of doing fun stuff after sats.
Might have a ceremonial burning of the papers and books at the weekend
Load of old bollox really.

past dd has a lovely pool at her ordinary state primary.

3-5 paper was about Jungle Book and wolves apparently. Right up my mini- Attenborough's street.

Should we be discussing content when some children might be taking them later?

Aren't they all taken at exactly the same time?

I've just had to go and pick DS up from school as he "is ill". I spoke to him on the phone and the first thing I said was..."is your exam over?" After spending yesterday telling him that it wasn't a big deal and they were more for the school than the pupil. He ws like

Now worrying about tomorrow and what to do with him if he is indeed still poorly; though apart from a bit of a sniffle, he seems OK. I think it was probably a combination of a bit of a cold and comedown after all the stress of the build up. He said the paper was OK; it was about wolves and there was a bit of Jungle Book in there, so he felt confident as he devours nature programmes and felt quite knowledgeable. Though he didn't attempt a couple of questions as he didn't understand what they were asking.

So, if he is ill tomorrow, do I send him, or not?

They are all taken at the same time dancergirl. Otherwise the DC would have all had to sign a gagging order!

No you certainly do not. If he's ill he needs to be at home.

Didn't someone say unthread that there is a 5 day window for ill dc to sit them?

Dd will have a migraine later. I'm half expecting it but am at work so waiting have to call in emergency people.

No of course not lack You don't pick and choose what to go into school for! If they're well they go to school, if they're ill they don't!

Yes, there is a five day period for the first time this year in case of illness.

DD has been incredibly quiet and moody over the weekend, despite us reassuring her that the sats are more about testing the school than her, as such. I will be glad when this week is over! Does anyone know when we get the results? I'm assuming they will be included in their end if year report but I'm not sure.

Hope DS is better tomorrow lack.

Lacka I would see how he feels tomorrow sometimes a good rest can work wonders. Our school is adamant that however poorly your child is they must attend, whatever illness they have can apparently be accommodated. A teacher will come and collect the child and return them to their sickbed once the test is over. I'm sorry but if my DD had a vomiting bug there is no way I would send her in. How can anyone be expected to do a test paper in between throwing up and being drained by the heaving and dehydration ?

5 day window or not, you won't be able to stop the kids talking! I know the even 6 one too, but not telling now

Level!

we've not got SATs for 2 years. TBH I am depressed by the minimum standards set for nc children and even more so by the schools freaking out over the dcs achieving when all's said and done very average measures of progress (like cm Ds was level 3 at the end of year 2 , now (yr 4) levels 4a/5c and I thought he had stalled a bit in year 3. Two levels over 4 years really should be a minimum surely. (Not talking about sn btw).

That's madness mumofthemonsters why don't parents at your school protest by withdrawing your dc as a group from sitting them??

In fact I'm amazed how some people are just sitting back and taking this rubbish from the school.

our school even had the cheek to say parents should take in children who are usually on transport it's not their bloody gcses

I might say DS1 is ill tomorrow if it gets him a lift in.

He seems much recovered, but is a bit snotty. An early night will do wonders I'm sure; he was up quite late last night fretting about today!

This is ridiculous isn't it. If be pissed off if my dd had to sit next to a child with a bug then got it herself gave it to the baby or me and dh who would then need sick time grrrrrr
It's bloody madness