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Original poster

Y6 SATs - am I failing dd?

101 replies

4strings · 12/04/2019 11:03

I suspect I’m being ridiculous, but dd’s school is full of very competitive parents who push and push and push their dc.

Dd1 has, in comparison to some of her classmates, done very little in the way of SATs prep. She’s done a good chunk of the books we bought through school, does her homework etc (including that which is set over holidays) but I haven’t been pushing more regular homework/revision etc. It seems utterly pointless. We still don’t know where she’s going for y7. School A sets initially on SATs; School B (her first choice) is independent and doesn’t even do them. (the school issue is complex and not a simple matter of passing the 11+)

I’ve had a few raised eyebrows/sharp intakes of breath when I admit to not pushing my 11 to breaking point as seems to be prevalent in her class.

Am I wrong in this approach? Dd is likely to do well.

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user789653241 · 15/04/2019 15:50

"From what parents of older children have told me, being given high 'targets' based on good SATS results has resulted in them being told that they're 'not on track' throughout secondary, which seems to be completely demotivating for the children and anxiety-provoking for the parents."

I don't think it will be like that with new sats,.Old sats had higher levels, so school may have pushed children to go beyond their capabilities. Now, one basic test for all, I assume many children are capable of getting good scores, if the school taught them well.

JenFromTheGlen · 15/04/2019 18:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

HopeClearwater · 15/04/2019 19:31

I don't think it will be like that with new sats,.Old sats had higher levels

Oh dear oh dear.
The ‘new’ SATs are more demanding than the older ones. Year 7 content has crept into them. Year 6 maths content is now being taught in Year 5. They’re not easier to pass.

Norestformrz · 15/04/2019 19:41

I don't think Irvine is saying that the new tests are easier simply that under the old system some children took the higher level 6 tests (expected level for 14 year olds) and now there is a single test for all children.

christinarossetti19 · 15/04/2019 20:16

Yes, the (not that new) SATS have higher 'expected' standards than those prior to 2016.

Moominmammacat · 16/04/2019 14:47

Y6 was vile for me because of other parents. Keep your own counsel.

"I am blessed with an intelligent child who is self motivated, I refuse to put pressure on her, when she is already hitting the grades needed" is a marvellous mantra.

Norestformrz · 16/04/2019 19:52

But according to Angela Rainer they'll replace them with new tests that they've not thought about yet 🙄

Norestformrz · 16/04/2019 19:53

Rayner

WhyAmIPayingFees · 18/04/2019 15:15

My advice is to stay chilled but make sure your child is used to the format of the papers. So make sure DD is not surprised by what she has to do in the test. How things are worded, where the answers go, stuff like that. I’m not in favour of cramming but did not want my kids upset by being caught off guard. I do think SATS are useful as I do not find teacher assessments reliable and there needs to be some calibration of the results. The associated stress is unnecessary.

Parker231 · 20/04/2019 09:41

Finland’s school results are amongst the highest in the world but they start school later than the UK, have a shorter school day, no standardized testing and no homework.

Norestformrz · 20/04/2019 18:21

Finland's position in the world rankings has fallen over the past decade so probably not a good example to use

Parker231 · 21/04/2019 21:38

amp.theguardian.com/education/2019/apr/21/year-6-pupils-spend-easter-at-school-cramming-for-sats

Poor children - why are the parents agreeing to send them for SATS work over the holidays? Some schools must be seriously concerned about how poorly they are teaching.

Norestformrz · 21/04/2019 21:49

For the same reasons some parents employ tutors and buy practice tests.

Rockbird · 21/04/2019 22:27

Well DD1 has worked her backside off this holiday and she's still got loads to do. She also has to go into school an hour earlier for the next fortnight or so. The pressure on her is immense.

Nofunkingworriesmate · 21/04/2019 22:43

SATs are completely pointless and just spoil their year 6
Secondary schools ignore the results as they are so mis leading and do their own assessments
As soon as they are scraped the better

mummmy2017 · 21/04/2019 22:44

Then just tell her to stuff revising and come play hookie ..
SAT test means nothing.

nonicknameseemsavailable · 21/04/2019 23:59

Rockbird that is just silly. I wouldn't agree to mine going in an hour early I don't think. I don't believe my daughter will do as well as she is capable of or as well as they are assuming she will but I don't want to make her do extra work. Unless something goes very wrong on the day she should pass them and if she doesn't get the greater depth the school are expecting then that is their problem.

bombaychef · 22/04/2019 23:49

I didn't think they mattered at all. Then other parents told me our high school does use them to set the children initially. Lots are now tutored

paxillin · 23/04/2019 23:56

Nobody seems to do more than the preparation the school sets. School has after school prep classes for all, sorted by expected performance and set an insane amount over the holidays.

I don't set any extra tasks myself, either. Earlier in year 6, kids do all these aptitude and banding tests and scholarship exams, I have no interest whatever to repeat the stress of those.

Rockbird · 24/04/2019 08:53

DD1 is in bits. She's depressed, tearful, coming home with her lunch untouched, not sleeping. She went in early yesterday and today but I'm sending her in normal time tomorrow and Friday and they can whistle.

Gazelda · 24/04/2019 09:37

Oh Rockbird that's awful! Your poor DD.
I think you're absolutely right to let her miss the early starts for the rest of this week.
I'd be speaking with the teaching staff - your DD's wellbeing is being affected which is unacceptable.

christinarossetti19 · 24/04/2019 10:31

God Rockbird that sounds terrible.

You do definitely need to go in and speak with the staff about the effect that this pressure is having on her well-being.

Was it the school that insisted that she 'work her backside' off during the Easter holiday? If so, they also need to know the harm that this has caused her.

imaleaver · 24/04/2019 13:17

I got my dd to do a maths paper last night. Only bit of prep she has done outside of school. She managed 111 as a scaled score which I think has just scraped an exceeding expectations (91% real score across the three papers).

I'm not making her do anymore. They don't matter really. Interestingly the only things she got wrong were from not reading the question properly rather than actual maths skills so I think the most important thing is to tell them to relax and read the question carefully.

Rockbird · 24/04/2019 13:20

I was planning to go in today but typically I have a tummy bug so am having to stay away. But yes they gave her the work, three big folders of it. Other children got similar and I've heard other tales of tears over the holidays. I just feel it more because of her existing issues.

She's not going in early tomorrow and I'll be speaking to them just as soon as I'm up and running again.