Year 6 trial assessments

[Kate197]

I was just wondering if any other schools have been told they have been chosen to take part in trial assessments being carried out by NEFR? The tests will be carried out under exam conditions a couple of weeks before they are due to take their SAT's and I'm really not happy about the unnecessary additional stress it will put my son under. He is 10 and already struggling with this year. He has been offered a certificate and a free pencil to take part (wow!)
I have contacted the head to tell her my concerns just to be told, the school are unable to opt out and he has an experienced teacher to guide them through it.

The children are trialling the papers that children will sit in a few years.

In the trials I’ve taken part in before, the children have sat the test knowing it is a trial and the administrator then asked them questions about the test materials. There was no pressure at all and it was actually good experience for the children.

it is statutory for schools selected to take part. I’m not sure if individuals can opt out

I would say though, I never put pressure on my year 6 class- exam stress at 11 is nonsense.

I've had confirmation my son and several other children have been excused from taking place in the trials and will be given an alternative activity.
I read the information sent through from NEFR carefully. It clearly states assessments will be under exam conditions and several questions being posed are likely to be set too difficult.
Even with the knowledge this is a trial my son and I suspect many other children, would find being asked questions too difficult a stressful experience. The timing is also very poor just days before they are due to start their SATs.
The assessor would no doubt get feedback from the confident eager to please children. But would the less confident children who did not enjoy being used as guinea pigs be as eager to speak up? I know my child wouldn't.
I am glad I have spoken up as without honest feed back people like the woman from NEFR who sent me an email claiming children were 'excited' to take part and many find it 'destressing', will carry on being very deluded. Unfortunately it's companies like this that are adding for the need for there to now be a childrens mental health week. The numbers of children not coping with the added pressures they are constantly being subjected to.
Sorry for the long message but this is something I feel very strongly about. I just wish trials on reducing assessments would be carried out, I'm sure teachers and children would find this much more beneficial.