Failed SATs KS2... What to do?

[Headunderthecovers]

Ds2 got 106 maths, but only 99 in English grammar and 98 in reading . He also failed science. I am worried about implications going forward and what I should do for secondary.

He has concentration and organisation problems. He will literally forget a bag I have just put in his hand or an instruction given a couple of minutes ago.

I struggle to get him to do his homework as anything he can't do straightaway he just gets angry and refuses to do. In fact I struggle to get him to do any work full stop. He is addicted to Minecraft/Roadblox and although I limit his time he swears and shouts when I take him off. He really 'loses' himself. I feel the games are his way of relaxing and he finds it easier to make friends on this forum than at school where he is often made fun of. He struggles to manage his emotions and when I am even mildly reprimanding him he says I am 'shouting' at him despite not raising my voice.

My older children weren't like this at all and Ireally don't know how I should handle him. The older children feel I am too 'soft' with him but I can't take the daily battles. We will have the morning tantrum about clothes sensitivity and the afternoon ones about time limits playing games. He will just shout at me until he gets his own way.

His report says he responds well to one to one adult attention and praise which I would definitely agree with. His dad left last year and he was witness to the fallout from this and I know he struggles with this and his anger increased and he had separation anxiety issues with me.
I have other children, a full time job and my life is a full time balancing act and I feel none of it is done perfectly but I do the best I can.

He is really quite good at maths (and science despite failing his SATs!) and I can see compared to his siblings he is just as 'clever' but doesn't concentrate and work. His report says verbally he is good at coming up with English ideas but not so good at putting these ideas onto paper. We are a very bookish household but whilst he likes being read to he doesn't pick up a book himself.

I desperately want him not to miss out on opportunity at school because of things I could do to help him. He will be going to the local comp and lessons in especially the middling to lower sets can be disruptive and certainly not what he needs.

I'd like some advice on how to help him at home as I feel I am failing badly and not just schoolwork but in managing his emotions and concentration and organisation as this is likely to get him in trouble at secondary school where there more expectation on the child to become independent.

Any ideas and hope for going forward?

You talk about clothes sensitivity, concentration and organisational problems. Do you think he might have undiagnosed special needs?

I need to collect dh from the train station, back later. Hopefully someone else will come along to chew over with you.

You're worried about 99 and 98!

Those are not scores to worry about. They mean he's average.

You don't need to do anything.

Getting under 100 isn't failing! 100 is the average. So he got just under.

Isn't the pass score 100? So is he very close to passing?

Having said that, organisation can be a big struggle for some when they move up to secondary. We find the year 7s initially find it really hard to remember everything they need.

I would use a ticklist that he can check off every morning (or you can do it with him initially) and a discussion the night before about what lessons he has and what he will need for them, eg PE kit.

Can you afford an assessment for dyslexia? Some of the difficulties you mention can be associated with dyslexia

www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/parent/indication-of-dyslexia

First of all, please don't consider he has "failed" - SATS are not pass/fail. He is simply working ever so slightly below what someone has deemed to be the "expected" level". The difference between him and a good chunk of the cohort that sit just above or below average will be pretty negligible.

Thank you for the checklist idea. DD really struggles with organisation so this could help

Can you fail SATS given they don't actually mean anything and a lot of schools don't do them

His SATS results are fine. Great Maths score and the other 2 only marginally below 100. He hasn't failed!

However, I can understand you are concerned given the other things you mention.
There may be something special needs related which others will be able to give you good advice about. I'm sure other useful advice will also be forthcoming from knowledgeable people.

But he really hasn't failed.

Thank you so much for your replies.

I do think he perhaps he has some undiagnosed 'special needs' but they are mild in the scale of others. I don't know how or if I should pursue these. School has never suggested anything but they also said they don't notice his stutter which he has been under NHS speech therapy since age 3!
He definitely struggles with empathising with others' emotions in addition to the real lack of organisation (the rest of his class make fun of him about forgetting or lost items as it is always him but he often feels anxious about doing so) .
He can concentrate when gaming!, but when you read to him he fidgets and won't sit still and clears his throat (tic?) so it is hard work. The same with homework. I get anxious about it as well as I know it will result in a tantrum .

I just see the black and white of failed SATs on the sheet of paper as me failing him. I feel I need to be a better mum in helping him.

All state schools do SATs (15000) as do some independent schools (1000). 100 or above is the expected standard for the end of KS2, below 100 means the child is working below that expected in Y6. Its a harsh system and this year many schools are reporting marking errors.

Checklist is definitely something I am doing. He is going to have to walk to school himself for secondary and I'll have left for work when he goes. He didn't get in his siblings' school which is near my work so will be by himself in the mornings for 1/2 hr after I leave. I have a big clock with alarm planned and a laminated check list list on the front door planned and the neighbour on the case to check he closes the front door. (It really is this bad!) .

below 100 means the child is working below that expected in Y6

I thought SATS were supposed to be a reflection on the teaching

What are the implications of getting below 100? I was told at the school he is going to a friend's dd was excluded from the more academic GCSE choices because of her ks2 SATs scores. It feels as important as the 11+ in this respect.

It is not helpful to use the terms 'pass' and 'fail' in relation to the SATs, as you can neither pass nor fail them.

It feels that way though as not meeting the standard doesn't express how it feels to the child and parent.

"I thought SATS were supposed to be a reflection on the teaching" no it's an assessment of the child and is used to set GCSE targets.

I was told at the school he is going to a friend's dd was excluded from the more academic GCSE choices because of her ks2 SATs scores

Who told you that.

What would happen if your dc didn't do SATS?

The schools I know have exams for everyone in September to see where they are in relationship to their other pupils.

ds "passed" maths but when he went to secondary he was joint 2nd with another pupil from his primary out of over 100 pupils. Infact all the pupils from his primary took the top slots in maths.

"I thought SATS were supposed to be a reflection on the teaching" no it's an assessment of the child and is used to set GCSE targets.

So what happens to those that don't do SATS

mrz is correct (and as an experienced primary teacher, she knows what she is talking about)

SATs are used to generate targets for GCSE. If, in the very rare case, someone hasn't sat them, then it is approximated based on the others who have.

Secondary Schools do set their own tests to monitor and organise sets, but not for the targets

"The schools I know have exams for everyone in September to see where they are in relationship to their other pupils."
That's the schools internal assessment system used only by that school. The national tests are used by the DfE to set students targets regardless of what individual secondary schools do.

All state maintained schools must administer the tests to every pupil able to answer the easiest questions
"The tests are designed to be used with all pupils who have completed the KS2 programme of study and are working at the overall standard of the tests. This means that if pupils are considered to be able to answer the easiest questions, they should be entered for the test. These pupils may not achieve a scaled score of 100, the ‘expected standard’, but should still take the test. "

Some independent schools choose to administer the tests ...over half a million pupils.

I also agree that this is a harsh system of pass/fail now and I am really pleased the requirement to resit has gone. I would add my voice to those saying that your son's score is so very close to the 100 mark that I would concentrate on celebrating the positives of primary school and not allow this to tarnish the end of his time at the school. End on a high and enjoy the summer.
Then you can work afresh with the secondary school to see how you can support him moving forward. Do cut yourself some slack

The child who was put on the non academic pathway for GCSEs will have done A LOT worse than 98.

98 won't exclude your DS from anything.

I really don't worry about it, there aren't so much difference between child who scored 100 and 99/98, I assume?
Good thing is, they may get extra help at secondary.