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Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

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Original poster

SATS - I'm livid but where do I stand?

29 replies

Streety6324 · 14/05/2013 10:09

My son has horrific diarrhoea this morning (too much info I know but he woke up in it - we've never experienced anything like it) I rang the school and they said that he would not be allowed to take the test another time (I spoke to receptionist) Worse than that - he will be awarded a level 3. The problem is he narrowly missed out on 11+ and rather than appeal we felt it better to give him the option of taking the 12+. To even be able to sit the school entrance exams he has to get level 5 in his SATS. At the end of Spring term he was 4a in English and already a 5 in Maths - so this is completely achievable. He has also completed sections of his revision booklet each day and is now gutted that he'll be given a level 3. Also because its diarrhoea - what on earth do I do about tomorrow? It's slowed up now but he is still having bouts. Where do I stand??

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Periwinkle007 · 14/05/2013 10:13

well I think regarding tomorrow you have to keep him off, the 48hr health rule is there for a reason.

It sounds wrong that he is just automatically awarded something below his expected level of achievement. I don't really understand SATS but is there no medical exemption type category? there must be something that would mean he was 'awarded a 3 due to missing exam for medical reasons, this is not a true reflection of his ability' type of category.

Sparklingbrook · 14/05/2013 10:15

Hi Streety that is very . Join us on this thread.

MerylStrop · 14/05/2013 10:16

that must be bollocks

and surely the school don't want a very able student do be marked as a level 3 and bring down their marks

if he's ill with D&V, he cannot take the test

I would ring to speak to the head.

tiggytape · 14/05/2013 10:17

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Sparklingbrook · 14/05/2013 10:17

YY to speaking to the Head.

Bluebell99 · 14/05/2013 10:17

Did the receptionist tell you he would be awarded a level 3? Sounds a bit strange to me. Our school does do teacher assessments as well and said that if a child failed to achieve their expected level they would make sure that the secondary school was informed.

tiggytape · 14/05/2013 10:21

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lljkk · 14/05/2013 10:24

There's a thread going for those of us with poorly DC during SATs week, here. They CAN reschedule today's SAT, it's just a bit of faff. There's some hotline they have to ring, DD's Monday test didn't get rescheduled until Monday noon, there's still time, I am going to try to find the phone number. You print it out & turn up there asking WHY can't they reschedule again?

yanbu to be livid if they insist they can't reschedule.

tiggytape · 14/05/2013 10:25

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lljkk · 14/05/2013 10:25

2011 form....

MadeOfStarDust · 14/05/2013 10:25

YY - our school says if a child is ill they can sit the test within a week so long as they are kept away from classmates before then - We were told it was new this year.....

We were also told that if they really were very ill and could not sit the test within the week, the teacher assessment would go in their Secondary school report - not just a default 3.

lljkk · 14/05/2013 10:27

Xpost, tiggytape has it for you, print that out & march up there all sweet and innocent and ask why that info doesn't apply, please?

Original poster

Streety6324 · 14/05/2013 10:31

Hi, yes it was the receptionist - she said ''Mrs (headmistress) told us the other day that if they are ill they will only be awarded a level 3". But I agree, it can't be right, why would they want a negative outcome? I'm awaiting a call back from Bucks CC - she said she will look into it. At least then I know where I stand before I call back and speak to headmistress. We have just looked at the PowerPoint presentation that the headmistress used at the meeting and all it says is that children must take the test at the same time. All very well in an ideal World! If this was just about streaming in Yr 7 then I really wouldn't be so bothered.

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Original poster

Streety6324 · 14/05/2013 10:32

Ooh thanks everyone - I will do exactly that!! I'll let you know what happens xxx

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Sparklingbrook · 14/05/2013 10:33

Good luck. x

tiggytape · 14/05/2013 10:35

This reply has been deleted

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Original poster

Streety6324 · 14/05/2013 10:59

Am waiting a call back from the Head as she was on the phone - apparently there are a couple of pupils off and they've had a 'rethink' - even that annoys me a little. But I guess I'm in that mood now :(

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RustyBear · 14/05/2013 11:12

We had a child off sick yesterday who missed the reading paper - he came in this morning, stayed in the office away from other children until the start of the SPAG test, completed that and then went out to break with a TA to keep him away from the other children - he is now doing yesterday's paper, after which he will rejoin his class and do the rest of the week's papers as normal.

i think these arrangements may be fairly new, though schools have always been able to ask for variations in advance if they knew of a problem - we once had a child who was filming for a TV show that week and was allowed to take three of the papers in one day.

LazyMonkeyButler · 14/05/2013 11:18

When DS2 was taking Year 6 SATS this time last year the school made it very clear that if anyone was poorly - anything less than hospitalised (actual words) - they would be expected to attend school and take the test in isolation. After the day's tests they would be able to go straight back home, no need to wait until the end of day.

No idea what the legalities are though & whether that actually happened!

lucjam · 14/05/2013 11:52

A girl at DD's school is missing tomorrow as its her Grandmothers funeral. Her parents had to come into school and sign forms to say that they wouldn't allow her to talk to any peers and that they will take mobile phone/internet away from her. She will take the test the next day when she is back.

Automatically giving a level 3 is ludicrous, and how demoralising for your DS. Hope you get it sorted and he can sit it soon.

everlong · 14/05/2013 11:58

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Original poster

Streety6324 · 14/05/2013 12:21

Ok - just spoke to the Head. She explained that they can re-schedule and he can do the test on Thursday. Also said he can go in and do tomorrow's test and then come home if he is still feeling weak. What a huge palava!! Thank you all for your input - really was invaluable. Btw - the lady from Bucks CC never rang back! :/

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Original poster

Streety6324 · 14/05/2013 12:24

Lazymonkeybutler - I can't believe that! Even if they are isolated how can a child perform at his/her best when they feel ill! This all seems so skewed :(

OP posts:

ProudAS · 14/05/2013 13:10

There is not a lot that councils can do as schools have a lot of autonomy (even if they haven't become academies).

amidaiwish · 14/05/2013 13:29

Glad you've sorted it. Complain about the receptionist though. She shouldn't be spouting crap like that. Grrrrr

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