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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

Should dd2 do the level 6 maths sat or not?

52 replies

18yearstooold · 02/04/2015 06:51

Dd2 is able at maths but really lacks confidence in the subject -this has been the ongoing position since she started school

Her older sister is a bit of a maths whizz and she compares herself constantly and feels as though the teachers are too -I don't think they do

Anyway she's had a fantastic teacher this year and is now consistently getting 5a on the practice papers they do -teacher wants her to do the level 6 paper

Dd has gone into a blind panic about it

Do I let the school put her in
If she passes she may actually start believing she's good at maths
If she doesn't then it may provide her proof that she's rubbish -in her mind anyway

She just can't see that a level 5 is a good result

What do I do?

OP posts:

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snowmummy · 02/04/2015 07:04

If it has sent her into a blinds panic already, I'd say no. 5a is a good result and if she's comfortable and secure, I'd leave it at that. The teacher would probably like her to get a 6 for the school's stats.

Waitingandhoping2015 · 02/04/2015 09:01

I read somewhere else that they would have had to have entered them for L6 by now (or not) so the decision has been made anyway...

ThatBloodyWoman · 02/04/2015 09:06

No.
Even if she's already entered,say no.
They don't need 'exam' stress at their age.
I think Sats are for the schools not the kids and it surprises me how msny parents get so over excited sns start pressuring them.
My dd is doing the L6 english one,but she's quite unfussed about it and I don't mention it.I don't mind either way so long as she's happy.

Iforgottotellyou · 02/04/2015 09:14

I think she should decide for herself as she's the one that's got to sit it.
My dd got extremely stressed over her mock sats, and sat the L5 in the mornings and L6 in the afternoons, (all subjects! ). She totally lacks confidence, and got in a terrible state, so I told her not to bother with L6, but her teacher has said she's capable of doing them so she's going to give it a go but no pressure from me.

MillyMollyMama · 02/04/2015 13:49

I thought they had to be taught extra syllabus to do Level 6? I might be wrong, but has she been taught at the higher level so she could realistically get level 6? If not, and it is just a bolt on, I would say do not bother. I would work hard on trying to get her to accept she is good at lots of things (and she is not a clone of her sister), or she may always feel a failure, which is sad. At secondary school the top 5a pupils will probably be with the level 6 children anyway - unless she is going to a super selective school.

ragged · 02/04/2015 14:19

The problem isn't the test, is it? It's her attitude that anything but top marks is a fail.

I'd probably refuse to discuss the test (she can figure out what to do on the day) but I would talk a lot about how trying your best is ALWAYS a success.

Eggynuff · 06/04/2015 16:41

Do you actually get a say in this OP?

goingmadinthecountry · 06/04/2015 18:53

OP should get a say in it. I've left it to dd and the school (I teach but don't mind either way). She's chosen not to take the reading L6 (can't blame her - it's pretty boring) but will take maths and SPaG. So much of the stress/lack of stress is down to schools. You wouldn't believe the pressure some schools put on the children.

Dd will go to a selective school in Sept and SATS won't have any impact on setting etc. Her school have done a huge amount for her and her siblings and I want her to do her best for them. And for herself of course!

Original poster

18yearstooold · 06/04/2015 20:14

I thought I got a say, we discussed it at parents evening and I'd thought we'd agreed she wasn't doing it

I'm going to see the teacher after the holidays

It will impact what set she's in initially but I think sometimes its better to be near the top of set 2 rather than struggling in set 1

OP posts:

Eggynuff · 06/04/2015 20:19

I thought I got a say, we discussed it at parents evening and I'd thought we'd agreed she wasn't doing it

That's not what you said in your OP. You asked 'Do I let the school put her in' and the title of your post is Should dd2 do the level 6 maths sat or not? which gave the impression that it's not yet been decided.

Original poster

18yearstooold · 06/04/2015 20:34

Ah sorry, didn't think it relevant when I started the thread and didn't re-read my OP before posting tonight

Casual conversation at parents evening went along the lines of...

T -we're putting her in for the English level 6 papers but not maths
Me -good, I'd rather she builds her confidence with a solid maths performance rather than push for the 6

They run booster groups once a week for 25 minutes, she's been going to the level 5 group, not given it a second thought after parents evening, as far as I was concerned she was doing the 3-5 paper

Until Thursday last week when level 6 was mentioned again by the teacher

OP posts:

Eggynuff · 06/04/2015 20:42

Oh, I see, I didn't realise you'd had parents evening since your original post. So, she's not doing the level 6 maths then?

Original poster

18yearstooold · 06/04/2015 20:46

Parents evening was February

In February they told all the parents which test the children were doing, some were told the decision hadn't been made yet

I was told dd was doing the 3-5 paper

Thought no more about it until the 2nd April when they said they wanted dd to 'have a go'

OP posts:

Eggynuff · 06/04/2015 20:47

So is she doing it or not?

Original poster

18yearstooold · 06/04/2015 20:50

They broke up the day after it was brought up but when they go back i'm telling them I don't want her to do it

OP posts:

Eggynuff · 06/04/2015 20:57

See, I thought the teacher just gives them whatever assessment they want them to do. I wasn't aware that the parent had to give permission.

ReallyTired · 06/04/2015 21:07

It makes little difference whether a bright child gets level 6 or not. Most decent secondary schools have fluid setting in the first year. If they feel there is potential then they will move a child up. (Conversely some level 6 children get moved down if they cannot cope with the pace of the top set.)

What I feel is a concern is the fear of failure. Maybe getting a level 6 is a long shot, but is it better to try and fail or better not to try. Is the OP daughter scared that failing the level 6 paper will be evidence that she is not clever.

Original poster

18yearstooold · 06/04/2015 21:12

She's already convinced she's not clever -I think a failure to get level 6 will be her proof to everyone else

In her head it's all about the maths, English is irrelevant

OP posts:

Eggynuff · 06/04/2015 21:13

If you have any choice at all I would say don't do it. SATS are absolutely pointless for children.

ReallyTired · 06/04/2015 22:15

So you think the risk of potential failure means she should not try. She needs to change her mindset and worry less about what people think if she is going to be successful in life.

Original poster

18yearstooold · 06/04/2015 22:32

I think she will be devastated if she tackles it and doesn't achieve it

It won't benefit her to achieve it so is it a lesson she needs to learn at 11? i'm genuinely asking, I'm not an expert

I do want her to do well in maths when she has formal exams and I believe that early experiences of maths shape the future if that makes sense?

She's not really a child that gives up if something is hard or she doesn't get it first time -except in maths

OP posts:

ragged · 06/04/2015 22:38

Just because something is difficult or we might fail (at first), is not a reason to not do it.

Good luck. I do think it should be her decision.

SchnitzelVonKrumm · 06/04/2015 22:47

A lot of kids sit the L6 maths SAT - it seems to be much easier to get than L6 English, especially the reading paper. I am trying to manage down my DD's expectations re: the latter even though it's her better subject. So perhaps if your DD takes both she'll do better in maths, giving a boost to her confidence?

ragged · 06/04/2015 22:51

yeah, good point, she's a lot more likely to fail the Reading, OP, is that definitely not a worry? DD is now yr8 but that Reading 'fail' is still a sore point with her. She has a mate who got L6 in reading; DD positively Gloats every time she manages to better his mark in an essay or something else in English class.

Sounds like math is a long term block... I have total sympathy with that . Only so much you can do to unblock it.

Miele72 · 06/04/2015 22:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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