Testing Testing and More Testing for 6 Year Olds!

[DeiseGirl66]

In the Summer Term 2016, Year 2 children (the current Year 1) will be required to sit a standardised assessment of English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling. This is in addition to the end of Key Stage assessments in Maths, Reading and Writing, and the Standardised Phonics assessment in Year 1. Here is a link to the Government's proposed assessment: www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/330319/2014_KS1_English_GPS_sample_materials.pdf

Given that in many European countries - including Finland, which is regarded as one of the most successful education systems in the developed world - children do not even start formal education until they are 6 years old, should we really be adding yet another layer of testing on our Primary school children? Is this what education is really about? Where is the joy, the fun, the inspiration? As a parent and a teacher, I welcome your thoughts.

It doesn't really bother me. In fact I would say the spelling if definitely a good idea. I can't read my son's stories because I find it hard to decipher his phonetically plausible spelling.
He is 8 now and still moans when you correct his spelling because it doesn't matter as long as you have a good guess.
DD has just gone into reception so will do this at some point, I hope this means she is more willing to be corrected than DS.

Doesn't bother me.

In y2 DD2 just spent a few mornings doing 'special work'. She had no idea it was a test. Even end y4 they do work in booklets, and I don't think she is aware they are levelling papers. I don't talk levels with her yet.

If the phonics test has been around when DD1 was in infants they would have found out her lack of phonics knowledge, and maybe done something about it. Now aged 15 she struggles to sound out words, even if when I say it she knows exactly what it means.

I think it's probably a good thing to see how children, teachers and schools are doing, no?

I think they are too young for all this formal testing. Young children learn at different rates. My 6 year old doesn't find it easy but is making steady progress. I am pleased with how she is doing and her determination and the school. This would however be another test so a bunch of Government statisticians can tell us all that her slow and steady progress is not good enough and that she is behind. More fun will go out of the lessons so the teaching focuses on just the test results.

But what's the consequence of a "low" mark for her? How does it affect her negatively?

Schmee, I guess the impact on DD is minimal as I presume any test would just form part of a usual lesson. The main impact is on me. Its hard enough seeing your child try hard but struggle without having politicians or similar decide they too want to test them so they can also announce that they are behind. If the tests actually led to more positive outcomes for struggling children like increased support, then I could see a benefit.

It doesn't sound like the spelling component is changing. It will be the same format as currently in the KS1 SATS.

Lindy2 - I can completely see where you are coming from, but as you say, the main concern is you feeling like your child is being judged.

My DC have been an environment where there was no standard testing (small private school) and there have been some huge gaps in their learning. I've just picked this up as they've moved school.

I'm really pro the idea that there is some target setting and evaluation.

As you rightly as say, all children learn at different rates so it's no reflection on the child. But children do have a right to consistently good education, and I don't think this always happens without any external rigour.