My sons missing 2 days of SATS

[Bright4880]

Hi , my husband booked a surprise holiday to Florida as our Xmas present and it's just hit me it's his year 6 sats that week and he will miss 2 days , I'm so worried

There is family time in the designated school holidays. When you are meant to go on holidays when you have school age kids. If you can't afford to
go to a particular place then don't go! I know a family who sneaked their child out of school early before Xmas hols to go to Lapland and having spend goodness knows how many thousands, had to contend with their child being devastated at missing the nativity and the class party where you could wear your own clothes. I somehow think saving money on an exotic holiday isn't as important to kids as you may think it is. We have been on some amazing holidays but I guarantee the best times for our kids won't have been the most expensive ones - kids don't value stuff in that way.

I think kids are a bit more complicated than you make out. Yes they enjoy what is put before them, but like anyone else they like the extras. I remember vividly the holidays I had with my parents, few and far between, some to other cities some long haul. All measurable because it was time spent with family. And actually, I don't like being told what to do and when to do it all the time. It's why I run two of my own businesses. There is something disheartening (to me) when someone wants to tell me videos are more important than family time. If they're being educated by all means. But last week or two of school? Yeah right. Sats are a different thing I'd agree, but we visited 5 schools 4 of them told us they ignore Sats and do their own tests to stream the children, so even that argument doesn't stack up here. Oh and I'm not one for taking the kids out of school (though think about it everyday.

Your husband is an idiot.

But it seems he's in good company with a few other dh's on here. I'm astounded that there seem to be some men who show so little interest in their children that they know nothing about their schooling. And yet their inaction is excused and minimised. Or, in the OP's case, praised.

Working hard, running one's own business, trying to do a nice thing for the family. Doesn't that apply to most of us?

We had some parents complaining recently about something (nice) going on in school that their kids were missing out on because they were taking them out on fucking holiday. They whinged that they "hadn't been told."
No, because IT IS EXPECTED THAT KIDS WILL BE IN SCHOOL DURING TERM TIME AND NOT ON HOLIDAY so why would we send out a note saying, "please don't go on holiday this week because...?"

All the local secondaries track against sats results. They take CATS too - some schools before they start in September, some towards the end of the first half term. SATS very key in setting, more so obviously when they are set right from the get-go, which was the case at both dc1 and dc2’s (separate) comprehensives. At dds school, only set initially for English, maths and science. At ds1’s school set for pretty much everything.

Personally I would try and change the holiday dates.

It’s unfair on your dc and unfair on the primary.

Finally a voice of reason on this thread!

Seriously. I don't know which school your kids all go to, but all of the schools here (North West) stream kids based on their SATS results. Trust me, you do not want your child going in the bottom set. They will not get out of there.

I don't actually understand how your husband didn't know the dates of the SATS. Sounds like my MIL who I had to tell her her son was sitting his A Levels. Doesn't sound like education is valued very highly at all for you.

For all those saying they don't know when they are (you're welcome) Print and stick on your fridge.

All this hyperbole about children being inappropriately placed in the 'bottom set' for their entire secondary school education is ridiculous. Even if that happened initially (unlikely as CAT tests are used to set), no school would deliberately keep a child down in streaming because of some test they sat when they were 11.

My dd didn't receive her maths SATS results, which didn't stop her being placed in the top set after CATS tests.

SATS are used for progress/target data not as a crystal ball for goodness sake.

We took the dcs out for a week's skiing in January when they were in yrs q-5. Twas great. They also missed the last 3 days to attend their uncle's wedding in the US. SaSATS week though ? No way. You've got to change (by a few hours- how much will that really cost ?)

Sorry years 1-5

In 16 years I have only had one child who missed one paper. I disagree with SATs but they are here, we have to do them and we are held to account for our results. We put the work in and try to mitigate the stress they can cause. Our year 6 children love the breakfast treats, end of SATs party and the sense of having 'got there', with their friends. They know what SATs are and the results do mean something to them. Your child will miss maths so won't be given a result for maths as they need to have sat all papers. Dates are set more than a year in advance so there is really no excuse. I'm sure you will have a great time and I wouldn't begrudge you that but it is a shame that they will miss sharing this with their friends. Like many previous posters have said, secondaries may not want to use them but their progress targets are based on SATs.

OP it honestly sounds to me like you feel a twinge of guilt but ultimately you don't care that your DS will miss one of the SATs.

I'm not sure why you posted to be honest. I think you were just looking for at least one person to agree with you, and beyond that it doesn't matter to you that other people have different values and attitudes to education. You have already made your choice. You think your choice is right and disagree with those who have different values and attitudes. They think you are wrong. That's it really.

OMG that is totally unfair to your son. How dare your husband book a holiday in term time... does he not know that school is the be all and end all of a child’s life nowadays. SATS literally carve out a child’s potential and their future... practically defines them.?!?!
Seriously the comments on here are ridiculous and actually is what drives me mad about society today. Too much pressure/too many assessments.
Oh let’s send our children off to school, then when they get home send them off to private tutors just so we can get them to pass the 11+ and then we can gloat about how fabulous they are. Enjoy your holiday, ignore the stupid ignorant comments and have a ball! It’s an assessment which even if he isn’t there for a couple of days I’m sure they can gather enough information with regards to the level he is working at based on the work he has been doing the entire year round.

Well the results will go to the senior school, who will presumably ask why your son didn't do them, and will be told. So you're starting off with the reputation of someone who puts holidays above education. Not a great way to start secondary school - first impressions count.

I went to private school and we never did any sats so I don't think they are too important really? However I might pay to get him to take some tests anyway so you can see any issues before GCSEs, if he's a good and quiet child he could slip under the net if he's behind?

Not loving your husband booking the holiday and having the Mon-wed without you all but I'm selfish and would expect if my husband arranged a suprise holiday for me that I'd be the one going alone while he stayed behind with my son... If one of you has to go out before at all!

It's fine. Enjoy the holiday.

A small point but I don't think one that has been picked up on - the OP referred to her child being let down because teachers kept leaving. I know it's not ideal but teachers are, you know, people and as such will at times retire, have babies, relocate, seek out promotion elsewhere... Not sure doing so is letting anyone down.

Not all the schools in the north west do the school my son is going to doesn’t and neither does our local boys school because the heads don’t feel that SATS give a true representation because kids are coached to pass them.

Haven't rtft but when DGS missed last SATs due to illness he sat them on his own when he returned to school. He said he liked it better that way!