My child missing KS2 SATS

[ClareJK]

Hi, my father has been very unwell, when he was diagnosed, he said if he gets better we will have a family holiday. Thankfully he is on the mend and has kindly booked a family holiday to Disney in the US. However, despite advising on dates, the holiday has been booked during SATS week. To be honest, I went into denial about this at first and really didn't want to make an issue, as my children were presented the holiday as a gift for Xmas. My child has achieved decent results at 11+ and we are happy missing the SATS won't affect her too much, but the school are very unhappy and trying to push me to cancel or delay our holiday. We have two more children still at school and really didn't mean to cause this amount of upset. Help, what would you do, we are due to leave in 2 days!

The grammar school will not care two hoots for SATs. Many of their pupils will be privately educated and won't have SATs.
Don't let people scaremonger you into thinking this will damage your relationship with your child's secondary school, it won't.

She's not worried about the grammar school. She's concerned it reflects badly to the current school where her other children are still studying!

It seems a really unfair system that schools get minus 5 progress for a child who misses SATs which damages their progress data and makes it impossible for the teacher to get performance related pay that year.
We were all ready for dd to take SATs in a few days but then her dad died suddenly and she was in total shock. I know on her return to school after the SATs (when she was still in shock) she needed TLC not exams, but why on earth should the school/teacher be penalised for this and it give an incorrect picture of their progress? Why don't they just not include that child's progress? I feel bad for the school.

OP, how does your kid feel? Mine would feel awkward and unhappy to miss the tests. I know some kids wouldn't care but many would.

As a Y6 teacher, yes, it is thoughtless to the school and a kick in the teeth when this sort of thing happens but it does happen from time to time and there's not much point crying over spilt milk. Certainly the grammar school won't be bothered - it'll probably be the easiest progress points they'll ever make in 5 years' time!

Enjoy the holiday but if you're serious about wanting to make it up to the school, I would write an absolutely glowing letter at the end of the year about all the positives about your child's time there, emphasising their experiences with the broader curriculum, the strong starting point in the core that helped her to achieve her grammar school place, the character education the school provides and the positive contributions of teachers, especially the Y6 teacher, and leadership team; then, at least, there is strong evidence on file so that, if/when the school is scrutinised, they can show that the dip in results is not poor teaching, weak leadership or parental dissatisfaction.

MrR2200
Perfect advice ... OP, if you really feel concerned re:the holiday so just that!

Certainly the grammar school won't be bothered - it'll probably be the easiest progress points they'll ever make in 5 years' time!

Students without data aren't included in progress measures.

What is it about bloody Disney in sats week? Every other month there’s a thread like this. Is it cheaper perhaps because it’s such a bad time to go so the unwary think they getting a good deal?!

How many children will you get fined for? That is assuming it will be an unauthorised holiday.

Threads about SATs are always fascinating to read because of the varied interpretations about the actual tests and how the results are used! Just shows what a poor job the DoE and/or the School have done with getting the information out there.

MrR2200 as a Yr 6 teacher, how would you include a pupil in progress 8 that had no KS2 SAT results? The lack of KS2 SATs affects both the primary progress 8 (no end result) and the secondary (no starting point!) and they are excluded, yet you think they'd be included in both school's results?

I can see both sides, i can see why the school is pissed off. If your daughter passed her 11+ she is likely to be a child who the school really needed to do the SATS.
But equally the holiday is understandably important, i think waiting a week might have been the answer. But its done now.
My children school have a problem with the children who pass the 11+ then completely backing off and not caring about SATS, which is understandable they've had the stress of all that, but obviously the SATS are important for the school, with Ofsted, pupil numbers and funding all being affected by it. I do know some schools offer bonus's to teachers relating to SATS results so it really could be affected the teacher personally.

There is far too much importance put on SATS, its not fair on pupils or schools. Its especially unfair in infant and junior split schools as there is not always the consistency in marks making it harder for junior schools.

I don't think the OP cares about this school, but I bet she's just realised that her precious new school won't be very understanding about a parent taking their child to Disneyland in the most important week of testing on the calendar.

"her precious new school won't be very understanding about a parent taking their child to Disneyland in the most important week of testing on the calendar."

They will not care. She will not be the only one, esp at a grammar where there will be kids from preps and indies, and home edders, all with no SATs.

I do know some schools offer bonus's to teachers relating to SATS results so it really could be affected the teacher personally.

Teachers do not receive ‘bonuses’. Their incremental pay rise may be linked to results though.

You think feeder schools don’t ask about parental support? You’re mistaken - our children went to ten different schools last year, including one grammar. All of them asked that question.

I can’t get past the comment the OP made that the school have done nothing to help her DC pass the 11+.
It is insulting and lacking in respect for the teachers individually who taught this DC and the profession as a whole.

@Feenie they might ask, but it will not impact on the child, or the education they receive. The school is not going to be sitting in judgement over the OP for the next 7 years.

I can’t get past the comment the OP made that the school have done nothing to help her DC pass the 11+.

Yes, that didn’t sound great.

There have been so many times over the years that I’ve heard the ‘grandparents booked it’ excuse from parents, I don’t actually believe it any more. Especially since it is almost always a very expensive ‘once in a lifetime’ type holiday. Usually Florida, usually in this half term, because May is a great month for Disney - cheaper, quieter, not too hot. Any other teachers noticed this, or is it just me?

My parents book family holidays for us every year and we have managed to avoid this mistake by speaking to each other.

I have no problem with term time holidays at all but I can do without the bullshit excuses. Just tell the truth!

Yes my parents booked a short break family whatsapped the dates we all check calendars and confirm. It’s not hard. Agree the grandparents booked it is an extremely lame and unbelievable excuse. Just be honest.

ChicCroissant: No, Feenie's right. I was having a funny half-hour (it's been a busy old week! ). She'll go down as A for absent and be excluded from the progress measure.

But she will be included in the overall percentages so, in a one form entry school they're down 3% before they've started!