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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

Ks2 sats week 2015

483 replies

Catbat77 · 11/05/2015 12:03

I have a very nervous dd this morning, wanted to hear other parents thoughts or experiences this week!

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Seeline · 11/05/2015 12:08

My DD didn't seem particularly worried, but she did go through all the 11+/entrance exam activity in September. I have stressed all along that as long she does her best, I will be happy.

slicedfinger · 11/05/2015 12:09

Very mixed here in the sliced household. DD is doing all the L6 papers, and the school are putting them under an enormous amount of pressure, which has lead to tears in the last few weeks. She went off to school quite happily this morning though, because I showed her the stats about how few people are expected to pass (especially today's one) and she actually seemed to be looking forward to it.

I expect a completely different attitude for the maths paper though, because though she is doing fine (IMO) she hasn't even been taught some of the stuff they are expected to know for a L6, and I'm sure she'll go back to the meltdowns over that.

Can't wait for this week to be over TBH.

18yearstooold · 11/05/2015 12:09

Dd is that chilled she didn't even know which tests she was doing today

Seeline · 11/05/2015 12:12

Sliced DD is doing L6 Reading/SPaG papers. The school have given the kids extra classes, but have told them that they don't expect any of them to pass Can't really see the point of doing them in that case

LikeASoulWithoutAMind · 11/05/2015 12:13

Ds was more stressed that I would have liked tbh. I wish the school put less pressure on them. Him and his friends went early to have breakfast at school. (he'd already had breakfast but I thought it might be better than hanging around here)

Last night I gave him a letter I had written (based on the one I'm sure you've all seen on fb etc - but personalised to him) about SATS not being the be all and end all, and ran him a bath. That seemed to help quite a bit.

slicedfinger · 11/05/2015 12:22

Ha Seeline I so wish DDs school had said that to her class! She got a letter home saying "we realise you may be feeling anxious about the tests, but here is some more work to do that might help"! They have had crib sheets, extra classes in the mornings, and I only just discovered "optional groups" that they had to chose two of, to do at lunchtimes and assembly times for the last few weeks.

A new head this year, and I fear she is keen to make a mark. Olders DDs at a very high achieving secondary are under no where near as much pressure.

Doyouthinktheysaurus · 11/05/2015 12:30

Last year I had an extremely stressed ds1 going through it. This year I've got ds2 doing the same tests who is so laid back and pragmatic about it, it's amazing. I rushed home from work (nights) to give him a hug and tell him not to worry and he told me I was worrying more than him

He's doing the L6 reading paper but he understands the likelihood of him achieving L6 is incredibly small and he just isn't worried.

It's so refreshing and such a relief. Having one worrier child is enough. It is awful when children are anxious and worried, I have sympathies for anyone whose child is going through that this year

kimlo · 11/05/2015 12:31

Dd1 was happy because her class go in for breakfast. She goes to breakfast clun at school everyday anyway, but all her friends dont normally go.

Thats it really. She did have a few extra sheets to do over easter.

redskybynight · 11/05/2015 12:40

DC not stressed at all. All credit to the school who have made them remarkably low key (I wouldn't realize how stressful they were in some schools if not for MN). I think I am more worried than him and will be glad when the week is over though!

Original poster

Catbat77 · 11/05/2015 13:50

I'll go look up the facebook letter, my dd is not going to do level 6 maths but is going to do l6 english, unfortunately the kids doing l6maths have had loads of "secret lessons". And a lot of extra time spent on them in comparison to those doing l6 english

OP posts:

SlightlyJadedJack · 11/05/2015 14:06

Weirdly my DS has never been worried about exams and also sat the 11+ in September but for some reason he seems a bit on edge. It certainly hasn't come from us so I think their is pressure coming from the school which makes me a bit

I also have a Yr 2 DS sitting the KS1 SATs this week too!

thankgoditsover · 11/05/2015 14:07

Mine doing L6s with little expectation (at least not from me). School has been fine, no extra lessons outside of normal hours but I do think the children have absorbed some of the stress nonetheless. My son had awful 11+ entrance exams which did have, unfortunately, some concrete ramifications of pass/fail, so these are a little easier at least.

Having said that, he still feels he's got to do well 'for the school'.

SlightlyJadedJack · 11/05/2015 14:09

Just read the other posts, our school haven't given any extra practice stuff for home. DS is sitting L6 maths and reading but don't know about the Spag.

niminypiminy · 11/05/2015 14:41

Our school have decided not to enter anyone for L6, which I think is an excellent plan. Hardly anyone passes, they'll have to repeat all the work next year, and they mean absolutely nothing. Really pleased about this.

And although the school have I'm sure done their best, the system makes the children responsible for the school's performance, so they are bound to spend the entire year teaching to the test and doing endless practices. DS1 said this morning 'after Thursday maybe we'll be able to do some fun stuff in school again' which I think just says it all.

He was too nervous to eat breakfast this morning, and was doing a practice paper at 7am.

Springisontheway · 11/05/2015 14:49

I am pleased that SATs week is finally here so we can get it all over with! DD was a little anxious this morning, but that's down to the school, not us. I am sure she will be fine. She has been put in for L6 tests in everything, but I don't know whether she will be successful. Level 5s would be fine anyway.

When this is all done, I hope they will back off with all the homework, pep-talks and general hysteria. I hope the children can relax and learn some of the enriching things there hasn't seemed to have been time for since Xmas.

BoysiesBack · 11/05/2015 15:07

I'm lucky in that DS isn't at all anxious about it, he's a really easy going sort. Although talking to my sister earlier and DN is extremely anxious, many tears have been shed over the weekend.

We're lucky, although DS's school have gone through practice papers and sent a small amount of prep work home, they haven't piled on the pressure. DS came home on Friday with strict instructions from the Head and class teacher to have fun for the weekend and not to even glance at any work They also reassured the Y6s that they're proud of them all for how hard they've worked this year.

In contrast, DN's school have been much more pressurised, almost made out like their levels are the be all and end all

TheFirstOfHerName · 11/05/2015 15:16

Both went in quite calmly this morning. DD even admitted to being slightly excited.

I'll be glad when it's done.

WiseKneeHair · 11/05/2015 15:27

DS2 had a meltdown about them about 4-5 weeks ago. He seems OK now and we have spent a weekend with no homework/ revision at all. He says the reading tests are boring, but he's looking forward to the maths! I have been telling him repeatedly how unimportant they are and that as long as he writes his name on the paper, he doesn't need to do anymore.

TheFirstOfHerName · 11/05/2015 15:39

My plan for this week is to keep everything at home as calm and low-key as possible. And then plan some fun things to look forward to after Thursday. That seemed to work for the older two. I am trying not to think about what it will be like in the May/June of 2020 (1 doing A-levels + 2 doing GCSEs)

ProfYaffle · 11/05/2015 15:51

My dd1 has been similar Wise. When they went back to school after Easter the reality seemed to hit her and she had a wobble. Today she's somewhat tense but not too bad.

I'm really glad she hasn't been entered for the L6 papers, she's solidly in the 5s and I was concerned that the school might try and stretch her but they haven't. Apparently only 4 dc from our school are doing L6 papers.

TheFirstOfHerName · 11/05/2015 15:55

DD said Reading went well and she managed to finish (not a given, as she is a slow worker).

redskybynight · 11/05/2015 16:07

DS said reading was "good" and refused to elaborate any further. He's been working solidly at the same level for ages, so barring disasters (which I'm hoping "good" means not) that's what I am expecting him to get.

SPAG tomorrow will be more interesting ... (DS very poor at spelling so needs to do a fantastic PAG paper and not bomb too dismally on the spelling).

PerspicaciaTick · 11/05/2015 16:09

Apparently it was all "boring".
And DD has been flapping about everything except her SATS.
This could be a long week.

JemimaPuddled · 11/05/2015 16:17

Checking in...not seen ds2 for his verdict yet as he's insisted on doing all normal after school music, football, yadda yadda as he claims he'll go bananas if bored so reading the thread with interest. His weakest is "reading" aka comprehension. Awesome reader, lazy writer. Sigh.

ProfYaffle · 11/05/2015 16:19

Dd says it was "fine", I'm resisting the temptation to badger her for details. She is grumbling about the quality of snacks in the fridge

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