Past SATs papers set as Christmas holiday homework - is this normal?

[QOFE]

DD (10) was sent 2 of them to complete over the holidays. She also had to do a mini-project on this terms topic.

She did the mini project (she enjoyed it, worked hard, and did a great job of it too) but with visiting family and generally having some down time and enjoying the holiday, the SATs papers didn't get done.

I have this morning been told by her teacher that they are very important practise and she must do them tonight

Really? I though they weren't meant to make a big deal out of SATs? Seems a bit much to a) be piling on the pressure nearly 6 months in advance and b) setting them as Christmas holiday work FGS.

QOFE what a waste of valuable learning time. Clearly a school that has no faith in itself, very sad. They should be doing practice papers in school regularly under timed conditions so that children develop exam skills - and that not too often. I'm in the fortunate position that the school DD2 will be going to does not set exclusively by SATs - they do CATs during induction and take teacher assessment heavily into account. DD1 did badly in her reading paper in Yr6 and 'only' scored L4 - the school ignored this because all the other evidence showed this to be a blip. That's how it ought to be.

I work in a Secondary School and we re-test children very soon after they start with us. Children come from a wide range of primary schools and we know that SATS will have been treated differently in each school. Consequently we don't take a lot of notice of them.

DD2 In yr6 at a 'good' school. Quite surprised that they had no Xmas holiday homework at all. First day back, had 'mock Sats' lasting 3 days. Maybe school just wanted to see the score with a near level playing field, kids refreshed and not highly practised (Although there will always be some who constantly work through papers).
She was a little concerned that her maths would be low as she had not done any for a couple of weeks, but it was her best score yet. Something to be said for having a rest?

They usually get homework set weekly, which is a couple of hours max. Projects in holidays, including summer.

SATs papers take 45 mins, for a bright kid half an hour is plenty of time - so the objection is to 60 - 90 mins in total over the two weeks+ of christmas holiday......5 to 8 mins a day - geez poor poor kid! and what of thise desperate little receptions who are required to read for a full 10 mins a day, yup such intense pressure is sooo gonna damage them.

But Rosemary there is no point in doing SATs papers over the holiday if you are going to do them in bits and pieces. Because let's face it, the children should bloody well know the subject matter by now. If they don't, give them homework relating to their weak points, not a SATs paper that will cover everything irrespective of whether they know it or now.

And practising exam technique - which is useful if not done to excess - should be done in school under exam conditions otherwise it is meaningless.

Nothing to do with 'pressure', everything to do with wanting homework to be useful.

And I say again - most of us who work in paid jobs are not expected to work when we are on annual leave. Why should our children be treated differently?

circular DD2 did much the same this week and got record scores in SPaG - still awaiting maths scores but she said she enjoyed the tests. Everything in moderation.