No YR2 Christmas Play due to SATs!

[dustydog34]

MY DS's Infants school has announced that year 2's will not be putting on a Christmas performance this year. I asked her teacher why this was, as all years have always put on plays etc, she said it was due to the children sitting SATs next year and that they didn't have time to practice for a performance and get ready for the tests as well! I thought the tests were not meant to impact upon the children? This is infants school!
What do you think?

Well said mamma!

Do they do an end-of-year play? Neither of my children did a year two nativity, but they did a massive production at the end of the school year.

I had no idea there were Sats in year 2, when are they? (My son is in year 2, how have I not heard by now?!

There are teacher assessments in year 2, they are not called SATs now.

Well I was in school this afternoon, helping out. I heard infants rehearse for 30 mins. Then back to normal class. Then juniors sang carols for half an hour, and back to normal lessons. A few children were in and out for extra support stuff at the same time. Wonderful stuff.

I honestly think the world is going mad sometimes. Half an hour singing a day is good for the soul!

I don't want to come across as some hippy teacher either, one not bothered about results. I pride myself that all the children in my children in my class meet or exceed their very ambitious targets set by the head at the autumn pupil progress meeting each year. I just think that children deserve to have a lot of fun getting there. If the school/ teachers are on the ball for most of the year, a slight slimmed down curriculum (usually afternoon lessons do not literacy and maths) to accommodate a production shouldn't be detrimental to progress.

storynanny technically they have never been called SATs but there still are compulsory National Curriculum tests in Y2 even though the level reported is TA. Having said that the fact they exist doesn't preclude Christmas performances.

Mrz yes teacher assessment through a variety of methods including tests is what i meant .i was trying to reassure the poster! 1991 intro of the then named Standard Ass Tests were widely described as SATs if my memory is serving me correctly. Anyway not relevant to original posters query.
Mamma im with you completely, you are a teacher on my wavelength.
Enjoy your nativities everyone.

Sittinginthesun, thank you for giving a sensible post from a patents view.

sittinginthesun Half an hour singing a day is good for the soul - so true