Are CAT scores included in the Heads reference letter to indie school?

[Nads101]

I’ve not posted before, so I hope I’m doing this right. I was curious as to whether the CAT scores taken in y6 would be included in the head teachers reference to an independent school. The reason why I’m asking is, if she has an off day and underperforms- will indies look to CATs as an indication of ability?

I highly doubt they would

I don't thnk many schools do CATS in Year 6, secondaries tend to do them in Year 7.

I think the independant school may ask for them? We hope! Our 10 year old has just done her exams and we're not sure how well she did, so I'm hoping there's a reference to her recent CAT score

I hope so zebedee88. My Dd started her first period the day before her first exam. I couldn’t give her anything except calpol as she’s under 12. Poor thing was a bit crampy on the day. I do hope it didn’t impact her performance but if the school had the CATs to compare it too, I would feel a little more reassured.

I'll be honest, had trouble getting even a xxxx attended the school from date to date from school, I had to stand there and wait for it to be typed having asked for a month (after the school had already asked£

Oh dear, anniehm. I have heard of some schools really dragging their feet when it comes to providing references. I think sometimes they just disapprove of those opting to go private.

OP - is your DC currently at an independent primary or a state primary? My understanding is that most independent primaries do administer CATs and that independent secondaries expect the scores in their references. My understanding is that few state primaries administer CATs and, therefore, independent secondaries wouldn't expect scores in their references.

Thank you for that, user 149.... Dd attends a independent primary so hopefully they will include it.

I'm pretty sure our headmistress said it would be included. The 10 year old has chicken pox when she was meant to be doing it, she went back last week and only just found out that she has actually done the test last Wednesday...she didn't realise it was the real thing and said that she would have spent more time on the questions...I think the current school didn't want to get her worried. So now I'm thinking she was super relaxed about it! She's already at a disadvantage due to her dyslexia, although the headmistress said with her CAT scores and her reference she should hopefully be okay

I wish her all the best zebedee88. It’s rotten luck getting chicken pox before your exams. I do think the school should have told her they were doing a formal assessment but perhaps they didn’t want to stress her out-children often do better when they’re relaxed.
Just waiting for the next batch of tests in January

We include CATs and other standardised scores in references.

We're a state primary, we do year 5 CATs and would generally include these in an indie reference. But we're an 11+ area, so others might be different; that's largely why we do CATs.