SATS results depressing me!

[tortoiseSHELL]

Ds1 is KS1, Y2, will get his SATS results on Monday. And I'm dreading the whole 'how did he do?'. It's starting on MN - take a look down the education threads - and I can't bear it - the whole idea of 'grading' 6 and 7 year olds is crazy. How can you compare, for example, a girl born on September 1st with a boy on August 31st? And those scores go on their records, and stay with them throughout their school career.

It is so wrong. And I don't think a number should influence my opinion of how well ds1 is doing. I know he's doing fine. And I really don't care if he gets a 2b or a 2a or a 3 or whatever in anything.

Rant over.

Not sure how most other schools operate - we do 3 parents' evenings a year and try to do that - discuss progress throughout the year.

Also at KS1, as well as the test results we also receive teacher assessments which are based on their general knowledge of a child. They are a much more accurate "picture" of that child's ability than the test results which are essentially a snap shot!

As a concerned parent you know your child's strengths and weaknesses as well as your DS's teacher. Think we're all on the same side - as a teacher I'd much prefer to avoid ridiculous administration and just get on with teaching your children!

Tortoiseshell, the grades that you are given now are supposed to be teacher assessment of work throughout the year, though, not just a test result on a specific day, ie the teachers have to administer the tests but can override a test result if they feel it is not an accurate representation of your child's level.

The separate page on DS2's report with the 'numbers' on is headed: "End of Key Stage 1 Teacher Assessment 2008."

Each separate result (ie English, Maths, Science) is headed: "Teacher Assessment Result."

Then, at the bottom, it explains the levels, starting with: "Teacher assessment in reading, writing and mathematics is informed by the administration of statutory tasks and/or tests during year 2, unless children are working below level 1." That is, they use the tests to help make their final decision, but that's not all it's based on.

Perhaps I am fortunate in not living in a very competitive community- or perhaps I just don't talk enough to other Mums

We haven't had the Year 6 Sats yet, but I doubt I'll find them all that important- I know anyway what dd can and cannot do.

For ds, who is struggling at school, I found the marks on his school report quite helpful as they helped to give a picture of where his problems lie. I knew he was struggling anyway, so that was hardly a big shock; what I wanted (and what the combination of the report+parents evening gave) was an idea of where he needs help.

Children are assessed from the minute they start Reception to their final moments in Year 6. This is just good teaching - how else would a teacher know the next step for each child? The problems seem to come when tests are used to confirm this judgement in Y2 - all of a sudden parents can get very upset about this, but they are just a formal way of confirming judgements that are made throughout Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. I do agree that Year 2 children shouldn't know they are being tested - just like they hadn't a clue when they were assessed in previous terms. My Y2 children didn't know anything about it, and the tests didn't tell me anything I didn't know already.

I think it's just the 'increased importance' of the Y2 assessment that bothers me. Suddenly it is a big deal.

Tbh, ds1's school is as relaxed as I could possibly hope for in respect to SATs - the kids don't even know they are BEING assessed, and the teachers take the line that 'it's not for the kids, it's for the school'.

Assessment throughout their school career is good. It's just this 'being given a grade at the end of Y2' that I don't like. Even though I think ds1 will probably do pretty well. If he was struggling, I would really worry that going into Y3 he would be seen as a 'less able child' and taught accordingly (and as I said above, research shows that a teacher's expectations have a lot to do with a child's future attainment), rather than being an August boy.

I think I would just do a reading test at the end of Y2 to check they can read adequately - a good teacher should be able to flag up any problems without a number to help them!

I didn't take much notice of DD's SAT's results when she got them tbh.

Her teacher had already said to me that her results were not an accurate guide of her ability, at this age they can find recording data quite hard so even if they have all the answers in their head it may not translate onto paper.

Not one person has mentioned SAT's at school since we had the results.

Children are assessed from the minute they enter the education system whether that's nursery, pre school child minder or school unfortunately we live in a culture that likes to stick numbers on children as soon as possible.

I'm going to assume that in the (obviously unlikely, PFB alert) event that DD1 scored less than the absolutely highest mark possible on every single SAT, it's to her school's credit in that the school is so laid-back she didn't even know she was doing them. Because clearly my darling PFB is the cleverest child alive

(I actually believe that. I am clearly demented.)

Ooop - I had a thread on this

To ask whether I should say anything to DS about his results bearing in mind he has no idea what SATs are much less that he has done them.

I thought no, so did others, so he remains in blissful ignorance.

But no parents at school have mentioned them at all. No comparisons. No nothing. Perhaps I just hang with the wrong crowd...

Well, I have all this to come, but tbh, I'd just be happy if my son had a large wanger, and could change a plug.

It's just about all a bloke needs to survive, after all

Just the large wanger really these days. Most plugs come already wired up.

No wonder the men's groups moan about the diminution of men's role in society...

Ah, let 'em whinge

lol at large wanger!

MI - you may be demented but you made me smile!

If I asked DS1 what his KS1 SAT result was he wouldn't even know what I was talking about, much less tell you what they were. But his teacher has said repeatedly that his work (now at end of Y3) was much better than expected from Y2 SATs. The point being DS1 was assesed anew at start of Y3, and re-assessed & re-assessed... if I have an objection, it's about the constant re-assessments.

I'm not sure about the SATS being 'only' for the school. Good SAT results must boost staff morale & confidence; this will have a knock-on effect for my younger children attending same school.

Our school doesn't even insist on the children attending KS1 SATs (you can get authorised holiday then, anyway).

DS2 has a summer birthday & if he achieves as high as a 2c by the end of Yr2 I'll be well-pleased -- "Look, he's only slightly below average in spite of being a boy with a summer birthday!"

Just got ds1's results, and they were good! But opened them at home, and haven't told ds1 what he got. But am secretly

StarlightMackenzie - if a child is away on a SATS test day they just give them the test on another day.
And if you have to arrange childcare while you work, just keeping children off (unless unwell) is not really a viable option.

StarlightMackenzie - if a child is away on a SATS test day they just give them the test on another day.
And if you have to arrange childcare while you work, just keeping children off (unless unwell) is not really a viable option.