Our school has always seemed v relaxed, little formal homework, mainly learning through play in the younger years, but even they have stepped up the pressure a bit since Christmas. Not a lot of work comes home but there have been mocks for everyone, from these booster classes were offered for those who are seen as benefiting from a wee push. I expect this will continue, maybe even step up a gear until May.
It’s a very large, sought-after primary but there are plenty of other schools nearby (London), so parents do have a choice and I think amid a slightly declining birth rate schools do have to worry about having a decent Sats score so they can keep attracting kids, (i’m not an expert but I don’t think schools get paid for the empty places they have on their rolls).
Also there is a small effect on the child, our secondaries use them (among other markers) in setting children and I think even for their GCSE predictions. A lot of children are being tutored at DD’s school, pre-sats, I don’t really know what to make of that. We aren’t tutoring, but I ‘ve Got a few workbooks for her, she’s reasonably academic and I’m in a position to help her a bit. I do feel a slight ‘contagion’ from other parents, which is probably why I’m doing it, I’m say I’m normally pretty laidback (for a north London parent, haha)
It does make me a little sad, not judging any parents as everyone is just doing the best for their kids, but you can definitely see the ‘glass floor’ effect at play, middle class parents supporting struggling kids, not letting them fail, while similar ability kids whose parents are less Engaged/well-off/ familiar with the vagaries of the English school system don’t fare quite as well.
Anyhow, good luck to everyone and hope they have a massive knees-up after and then weeks of messing about until the end of term! 