Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Primary education

Join our Primary Education forum to discuss starting school and helping your child get the most out of it.

Flip

Original poster

Year 6 sats - catch up tutoring

14 replies

popsickle555 · 23/04/2023 08:20

Posting on behalf of a friend as my DC is thankfully doing well in her sats prep.

My friend’s DC has not ‘met’ the expected criteria in any of her year 6 sats mocks. The school have told her that she will not be able to access any additional tuition because it’s for those who are on the grade boundary from ‘meeting’ to ‘greater depth’. Is this true? The DC in question is very close to ‘meeting expectations’ and has learning issues (dyslexia). I find it unbelievable that such a child can’t access the help that’s been paid for by the government for kids to ‘catch up’ post Covid. Can anyone advise. I’m glad it’s not my child as it be kicking up a fuss but I am wondering if she’s just been fobbed off.

OP posts:

cansu · 23/04/2023 08:29

The school can decide on how they use any funding for intervention. It is however unusual for them not to prioritise kids who are close to meeting expectations. It could be that your friend's child is also very behind in writing too. They may think that even with tuition the child is unlikely to pass. Your friend's interpretation of being close to meeting expectations may not be the school's.

alyceflowers · 23/04/2023 08:31

The SATS are all about judging the school, it's not about individual children.

For the school, it's much better for their results to focus on those they can push up a grade.

Original poster

popsickle555 · 23/04/2023 08:32

Thank you @cansu I wondered this too. She did say she’s ‘a mark off’ but I don’t know which paper that was in. I just feel really sorry for them. She’s paid for a tutor herself but she basically needs more help and it does seem she’s been ignored.

OP posts:

TeenDivided · 23/04/2023 08:36

At this stage there doesn't seem to be much point as improvements won't be sustained anyway if it stops straight after SATs anyway. It might be better to start secondary with lower 'correct' scores as that might lead to more help in secondary.

I'd encourage her to continue helping from now until Sept as being 'secondary ready' is more important than getting 99 or 100 in SATs.

Brendabigbaps · 23/04/2023 08:39

I’d tell my friends that sats are irrelevant to the child. All she is doing is putting stress on her d to make the school look good!

TeenDivided · 23/04/2023 08:43

Brendabigbaps · 23/04/2023 08:39

I’d tell my friends that sats are irrelevant to the child. All she is doing is putting stress on her d to make the school look good!

Though that strictly isn't true as progress in secondary is measured against SATs and over/under performing in SATs can have negative knock ons in Secondary.

quietnightmare · 23/04/2023 08:49

Your friend just needs to not give SATS a second thought and do some work with her just 10 mins a day.

In September when she goes to year 7 all the children are retested so she has time to catch up.

If she hasn't caught up by then it honestly doesn't matter and she can move up and down 'sets' in high school and has until year10/11 so get her grades to where she needs them to be.

Plenty of time and nothing to worry about right now

tadpolecity · 23/04/2023 08:51

I certainly wouldn't be trying to tutor her now just for SATs. If anything I'd be tutoring her for Sept. To actually help her for herself.

alyceflowers · 23/04/2023 08:52

TeenDivided · 23/04/2023 08:43

Though that strictly isn't true as progress in secondary is measured against SATs and over/under performing in SATs can have negative knock ons in Secondary.

Show quote history

So all an intense bout of tutoring in May will do is give an inflated GCSE prediction that will mean the child is classed as 'failing' all the way through secondary.

MissAtomicBomb1 · 23/04/2023 08:56

tadpolecity · 23/04/2023 08:51

I certainly wouldn't be trying to tutor her now just for SATs. If anything I'd be tutoring her for Sept. To actually help her for herself.

This. The SATs are in a fortnights time, nothing right now is going to make a meaningful difference.

TeenDivided · 23/04/2023 08:58

alyceflowers · 23/04/2023 08:52

So all an intense bout of tutoring in May will do is give an inflated GCSE prediction that will mean the child is classed as 'failing' all the way through secondary.

Show quote history

That would be my concern, yes.

Whereas some consistent extra work between now and September may actually stick. And not to worry about the complicated Grammar as that isn't built on at all in Secondary and is imo a complete waste of time for less able pupils.

tadpolecity · 23/04/2023 09:49

I'd also agree that as yr7 up targets are often based on SATs, then they'll get targets they fail to achieve.
My DD and her friends all have different targets.

Original poster

popsickle555 · 23/04/2023 10:08

She does a lot of extra work with her and has for a couple of years. She's had a tutor for about 6 months as well and I think from what she has said she concentrates on more general learning / skills (not on sats) which sounds like it is the right approach. I suppose the school don't think a last minute push will help enough hence they are spending it on others. I can see that but I know it must be hard to swallow as the parent when the child hasn't had much help at all.

OP posts:

LittleBearPad · 23/04/2023 10:21

I find it unbelievable that such a child can’t access the help that’s been paid for by the government for kids to ‘catch up’ post Covid

There’s no help for kids to catch up from the government. Whatever money there was has long been spent.

An accurate SATs mark is better than an over tutored one for the child however SATs are mainly about the school and not worth this angst.

Flip