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Primary education

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

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Original poster

Just how essential are the Year 6 SATs? Would it be the end of the world if DD missed some?

57 replies

MadreInglese · 12/01/2009 09:41

DP's brother & girlfriend have just announced their wedding date this May, which happens to be on the Friday of SATs week.

They live at least an 8 hour drive away so we need to leave at the latest as school finishes on the Thursday, but that means DD will miss the Friday's tests. On any other week we would probably have left on the Weds night and just taken her out of school for 2 days.

Obviously we don't want to miss a family wedding (DP will go on his own if needs be), but I was considering asking school if DD is able to re-take the Friday's tests the following week instead - am I going to get laughed out of the door?

IIRC these are the ones that count towards school league tables, but how essential are they for DD personally? She will be going to a state comp secondary school (haven't found out which one yet) and I'm wondering if it will affect which set she is put in (do they do sets still in Year 7?) she is bright and gets good results each year and I would hate for this to affect her confidence if her results are lower than usual (tbh my instinct is that at 11 yo they are too young to be taking 'exams' anyway)

Your thoughts and comments will be much appreciated.

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Original poster

MadreInglese · 12/01/2009 10:19

Oh balls, Maths is her best subject too

Thanks Rustybear

OP posts:

MillyR · 12/01/2009 10:25

Rustybear, would you be able tell us which papers are sat on each day for the whole week? I know it seems a mad request but it would reduce my stress levels.

Original poster

MadreInglese · 12/01/2009 10:50

If we take her out (assuming it's going to be unauthorised) could being reported to the LEA result in some kind of penalty or fine?

OP posts:

RustyBear · 12/01/2009 11:11

KS2 SATS timetable

As I said, I have heard of some schools making minor variations to this - they might have both Monday tests in the morning, or one in the morning and one in the afternoon - at our school, we always have them both in the morning, one before break & one after, so the children can do fun stuff like art & pe in the afternoon.

The consequences of unauthorised absence vary according to the LEA's policy, so I can't really say what might happen, but I wouldn't expect a fine if a child's attendance is otherwise good. (Disclaimer: I wouldn't rely on this too much,as I don't know a lot about what the legislation actually says)

Original poster

MadreInglese · 12/01/2009 13:03

Her attendance normally is very good.

Will have to wait and see......

OP posts:

sarah293 · 12/01/2009 13:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MillyR · 12/01/2009 13:15

Thanks RB

Original poster

MadreInglese · 26/01/2009 14:12

We have parents' evening tonight so am going to test the water with the teacher.

DD got 100% on her practise Maths the other week which is just amazing but makes the decision even harder

OP posts:

aintnomountainhighenough · 26/01/2009 16:30

I am amazed reading this thread. I must be out of touch because I think a family event like this is a very very important part of childhood. Since SATs don't affect a childs future (like GSCEs for example) I wouldn't give it a second thought). If it were me I would simply take my DCs out. I can't believe that one parent accepted a TA coming around to her house so that the DC could do the test!

We seem to get a lot of threads on her from people up in arms about SATs but it would seem that when it comes to it people won't stand up against them.

herbietea · 26/01/2009 16:34

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Message withdrawn

happywomble · 26/01/2009 17:28

I think it is normally acceptable to take a DC out of school for the wedding of a close family member as this is. However I can see that it would be very difficult for the school if this happens to be Sats week. I don't suppose the wedding can be postponed to the following Friday?

If it can't I would drop your DC at school on the Friday and arrange for her to stay with a friend for the friday night. Then at least you and DH will be at the wedding.

Otherwise ask the school if the Sat paper can be done another day but sounds unlikely from what others have said.

Original poster

MadreInglese · 27/01/2009 09:36

Well DP would definitely go as it's his brother and he is an usher. I wouldn't dream of asking them to postpone the wedding and I would feel awfully mean if DP & I went without DD, so worse case would be DP going on his own.

DD really wanted to go to the wedding, but also (being a swot at heart like her mum ) really wanted to sit her exams with her friends and feel good in getting good marks.

We have actually found the perfect solution thanks to DD's teacher. She said nothing can be done re changing the date on a SATs exam as they all arrive sealed and apparently it's against the law to open them before the official date. She said that the SATs results would have no effect on DD's year 7 placements and they are solely for measuring the school's performance. She said she will allow DD to sit the Friday Maths exam on her own the following Monday and she will mark it for her when they get the marking guidelines, so DD will in effect still get a 'mark' for her Maths which is what she wanted, and we can all go to the wedding.

I'm sooooooo relieved

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Original poster

MadreInglese · 27/01/2009 14:07

and nobody wants to share my joy

OP posts:

happywomble · 27/01/2009 14:14

I have come to share your joy. Your childs teacher sounds lovely and it is great that the school have been understanding and found a way for your daughter to do her sats and attend the wedding.

Hope you have a lovely time at the wedding.

Original poster

MadreInglese · 27/01/2009 14:17

Thankyou

OP posts:

Amey · 28/01/2009 15:51

I love a happy ending.....

smartiejake · 28/01/2009 23:35

There would be an unauthorised absense against her name on that day and possibly a fine. She would not get a mark for maths as the final test is on that day.

Is there any way you could leave at 10 on the Friday morning?

see here for the timetable for this years sats. Most schools last exam would be over by 10am.

Having said that no I do not believe they benefit children at all. Most secondary schools, who do not have SATs data for a child, would look at a teacher assessment anyway and also many schools do their own tests at the beginning of year 7 as the results of KS 2 SATs are often spurious.

I would be inclined to say nothing and phone her in sick with some terrible lurgy on the final day.

Original poster

MadreInglese · 29/01/2009 15:24

Smartiejake the wedding is 11am on the Friday, at least an 8 hour drive away so it wouldn't be possible.

I know she won't get an actual official mark for her maths, but her teacher has promised to mark and grade it herself for DD when they get the marking guidelines. Our secondary schools here visit the year 6 teachers and look at previous performance, as well as doing their own assessments for sets/bands later in year 7. It won't be detrimental to DD's education to miss this exam (which was one of my worries).

I doubt very much that I'll be fined when she has a near perfect attendance record (only ever been out of school due to very rare sick days) and the teacher has ok'd it.

OP posts:

nappyaddict · 29/01/2009 15:47

If it were me I'd have no qualms about taking her out. It's not like they're important like GCSE's is it.

2shoes · 29/01/2009 15:56

I wish you luck, ds missed a day when dd was rushed in to hospital after having a major fit. the head was really worried....that ds was missing his sats!!!

cat64 · 29/01/2009 16:30

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

smartiejake · 29/01/2009 21:18

Thats good news madre.

Bloody SATs wish they'd get rid of them.

Smithagain · 30/01/2009 11:49

So glad to see that you have a school with an ounce of common sense! Enjoy the wedding (and the sats results .

rachels103 · 30/01/2009 21:18

I can appreciate that this is a difficult situation for you, but there is no way your child's school will authorise an absence or be in any way sympathetic on this one.

Although SATs are flawed in many ways, they are a fact of life. I think it would be a shame to take your dd out of school when she will have spent a lot of time in class preparing, and when her teachers will have invested the time in making sure she is prepared. It's one week out of her whole time at primary school...she should be there. Yes, the results may be more for the school than your daughter, but if you have been pleased with how your dd's school have supported her through her time there, you should perhaps think about this before making your decision too. After all, SATs are not their choice either.

As others have said, she will not be able to retake - they have to be taken on the day - but if it's any help, there will only be one 45 min test on the Friday which will probably be finished by 10.30 - could you whisk her away afterwards and at least be there for the reception?

nappyaddict · 30/01/2009 22:26

Erm rachel the school have already said it is ok.

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