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?

[IfNotNowThenWhen]

I always thought SATs were for the school, and the school only.
I didn't think they impacted on the child at all.
What would happen if a parent boycotted the SATS in protest? Would that affect the child?

[ClaraOswinOswald]

DD has just started her periods. As if SATs week wasn't stressful enough poor thing. Thinking of writing a note to her teacher so she can make sure she's ok.

[Sparklingbrook]

Oh thank you for saying that Suffolk I started a thread asking what was going in the clear pencil case and I was the only one supplying anything.

Oh Clara poor DD. That's a lot to deal with.

[LackaDAISYcal]

Aw, poor DD Clara . You should be able to mark this time with lots of mum and daughter bonding instead of her having to do a bunch of exams. Maybe arrange something special for Thursday evening?

[mrz]

IfNotNowThenWhen ...the government would probably predict GCSE results based on the FS profile

[Anthracite]

I remember when my DD1 was in Y6 at a state primary. She spent her whole year doing SATS practice. She hit level 5 at the beginning of Y5 and basically learnt nothing for 2 years. My younger children have been SAT-free, partly because of DD1's waste of 2 years.

[LackaDAISYcal]

Oh, and I'd have a word with her teacher; I'm sure they will keep an eye out for her.
I remember flooding everywhere during my first period as I had no real clue about sanitary towels and stuff (inspite of having two older sisters ). If I was in the middle of an exam when that happened I would have died of embarrassment.

[ChewingOnLifesGristle]

I am heartened to see that others regard SATS in the same way that I do.

I am starting to think that 'impressive' SATS scores for a school are a clear indication of a relentless cramming regime and a depressing and unimaginative yr6.

[IfNotNowThenWhen]

I might boycott then. The school will hate me

[Sparklingbrook]

I just want it over now.

[ChewingOnLifesGristle]

Can you boycott though? We've been old on pain of death to be there. Can they do much if you're not?

Mind you dc wouldn't want me to single them out for that (even though I'm dead against SATS, I try not to let my feelings known too much although I'm sure they know)

[BooksandaCuppa]

Ooh, seeker - you took the words out of my mouth...

Ds has his exam week this coming week in year 7: 3 hour long exams every day. Full on exam conditions; full essays expected; lab work in science under exam conditions; listening, speaking and writing tests for two languages; written music exam and proper art exam. For year 8 setting (and possibly to see who can sit yr 9 scholarships...)

Last year's SATs seem like a breeze.

That's not to be dismissive or disrespectful to year 6 dc and their parents - but if your future secondary does 'proper' end of year exams, SATs will just seem like good preparation.

(I would say ds's school fell somewhere in the middle of the camp of no pressure to lots of pressure...but I don't think testing at the end of seven years' compulsory education is a bad thing at all. A Head telling lies about their significance or offering money for results is another thing).

[MrsSalvoMontalbano]

Shocking that schools put this much stress on DC, simply for the schools' own rating in the league table - is entirely for the HT benefit, not the DC! Obscene

[Sparklingbrook]

I remember telling DS1 that it was to test the teaching not him.

[mrz]

Parents have been doing that for years so now everyone believes it even though it isn't true

[Sparklingbrook]

It was in the middle of the night and he was awake worrying so I would have told him anything so he got some sleep.

[Idontknowhowtohelpher]

dd2 has been in tears this afternoon about the Year 6 SATS. Her HT made a rare visit to their classroom on Friday to insist they came in even if they are ill or he will come to collect them. She is really worried about being ill tomorrow now. and just the 12 pages of revision homework this weekend...

[Sparklingbrook]

A lot of the children will be ill tomorrow. On the loo with nervous tummy.

[LackaDAISYcal]

DS has just had a huge meltdown about tomorrow. Buuut, he has been an arse about something and is in trouble, so I think the SATs worry may be a way to ellicit sympathy and a get out of jail free card

I think he is taking the school's "let them do what they like" advice to heart a little bit too much. I don't think they meant paint your little brother green and then encourage him to decorate the walls with the same colour and then try and get him in trouble for it

[ClaraOswinOswald]

DD has been in the shower for about an hour singing so I'm just letting her get on with it. I'm usually shouting about electricity and hot water by now.
:)

[serin]

I have only read page one, so apologies if this has already been said but we need to rebel against this ridiculous abuse of our children.

They are just little children to place them under such stress will only increase the chances of them becoming stressy adults.

It is such complete nonsense, DH was in the remedial class on starting high school and climbed his way to a PhD.

[Anifrangapani]

No revision or homework here. Thankfully. Can't wait for Thursday.

[mrz]

The only year we had pupils crying over the SATs was the year the unions boycotted the tests

[lljkk]

In a way it's good that so many of you have children who care so much. It bodes extremely well for their future. I am quite sure that DS2 won't give a damn when he's in yr6. Nothing any adult says will affect him. Same old rotten school silly tasks to do just a different day in his mind. Though at least he can look forward to mostly dossing for the 7 weeks afterwards. And changing schools 5 months later (will be same shit different school for him, of course).

He'd like a breakfast club, though. Hobbit throwback genes, I suspect.

[Secondme]

Felt so sorry for the less able kids last year when dd did SATS. Put under loads of stress and pressure.