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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

Why was my Y1 ds doing "science tests" today in the staff room, without me knowing anything about it?

138 replies

Greensneeze · 11/05/2009 15:45

My ds1 (6) has just told me he did "science tests" today, on his own, in the staff study - he was given 45 minutes. He says he was given just a pencil, and was alone but the teacher popped in and out a few times.

The questions were things like "How does the heart work" and identifying rocks from a list of characteristics, ie chalk "smooth, pale, can be scratched with a coin" etc

Should I be bristling at the fact that they are testing him when a) he's not meant to be doing any 'official' tests until Y2 SATS (and I don't approve of those!) and b) nobody said anything to me!

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OrmIrian · 11/05/2009 15:49

Did it upset him? If not I wouldn't bristle until I knew what was going on in more detail. Perhaps they have discovered that he a latent genius for science and are investigating.

I kept hoping that would happen with my DC ....I'm still waiting

AMumInScotland · 11/05/2009 15:50

Well, children in school do lots of tests, so I don't see any reason for it to be a problem. Maybe each of the children are getting this same test on different days? I don't suppose the teacher tells you every time she sets any kind of test, that would be excessive, wouldn't it?

cece · 11/05/2009 15:51

Lots of schools do tests every half term. Parents tend not to be informed - apart from any findings shared at parents evening. All perfectly normally ime.

Original poster

Greensneeze · 11/05/2009 15:53

He is good at science, he's just been diagnosed with Aspergers and does excel in certain areas (and is completely hopeless in others)

this is not news though - why would they want to test him in this formal way now, without even mentioning it to me?

He isn't upset as such but has come home very twisty/flappy/squeaky and talking nineteen to the dozen about the questions, wanting me to verify his answers and repeatedly mentioning the question he left because he didn't understand it

I'm not livid - I have a very high opinion of his teacher and know that I don't need to be informed in writing every time he farts. But I am surprised and displeased.

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Original poster

Greensneeze · 11/05/2009 15:54

also the teacher told him that the test was just for him, because he is so good at science.

I realise that will sound as though I am bragging on his behalf - but I am really not pleased about it - I don't think a child should be told that he is being singled out like that.

And I think she should have spoken to me before doing this!

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AMumInScotland · 11/05/2009 15:57

I don't understand what there is in this to be displeased by . He's at school. He gets tests. He may (or may not) have had an extra test.

If it was extra, it may be that they wanted to know just how far ahead he is in science, without any "revision", which he might have had if he (and you) had known about the test in advance. I don't mean "cheating", just that if I'd known at that age I was going to get a test on something, I'd have read up on it extra because I liked doing well in tests.

haggisaggis · 11/05/2009 15:58

I am just totally amazed that your 6 year old was able to read questions like that and then know (and be able to write!) the answers! I would be so chuffed. (mind you, dd is dyslexic so can't erad much anyway, never mind write it)
We don't find out about tests until afterwards either - but we are under the Scottish system and it is different anyway. In fact we have ebena dvsied that they won't test science at all in primary now as all schools have different facilities.

squilly · 11/05/2009 16:03

This sounds suspiciously like the SATS test I helped out on today for the Y6's! The two questions were definitely in the paper, ie the one about the heart and the stones that scratch!

I'm not a teacher, so I don't know if they use similar questions for the younger kids SATS. I just know these were in my Y6's.

If they are Y6 questions and they're giving them to your Y1 DS he must be a very, very bright little boy.

I'd ask the school what's gone on, just so you know what's happening. It may be they wanted to test just how far in front he is.

Original poster

Greensneeze · 11/05/2009 16:09

squilly was there a question about the best bag for making ice cubes or something like that?

it probably was a SATS paper then

I just don't like them doing this without informing me - it's NOT a normal run-of-the-mill test that all the other kids are doing, if he was the only one in his class doing it.

And I would have prepared him for the farce that is SATS when the time came, in my own way.

also don't approve of him being told he is the best at science, for a child with AS and social issues it benefits nobody to feed him that sort of comment. IMO.

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bigTillyMint · 11/05/2009 16:14

It sounds like he is very bright as many children with aspergers are, and they were trying to ascertain what he can do. Presumably so they can give him suitable work.

He was put in the staffroom so there were no distractions, etc.

Obviously it would have been better to talk to you about it first, but I'm sure there won't be any lasting damage done. He may have even enjoyed the peace and quiet and challenge?

FabulousBakerGirl · 11/05/2009 16:15

My 8 year old came home today and said he has been doing his "special work." The school call SATS that.

If they are being scrapped why not just scrap them all now?

squilly · 11/05/2009 16:17

Yep. There was.

They had to propose a plan to test different kind of bags to see which was best to keep ice cubes cold.

There was also a question about washing up bowls being made of plastic (and why) and a pan being made of metal. Why would plastic not be used?

I can't think of any other questions off the top of my head.

I would imagine that if your child is particularly gifted at science this would be a good way to check just what he can do. I'd be concerned if it was me though as well.

Your DS has clearly taken it all in his stride, which is impressive.

Definitely raise it with the teacher. Tell them you believe he's had a SATS test and you want to know why. I'd tell them why you're angry about it.

I know testing is par for the course, but it's a lot to expect a 6 year old to contend with. And I'd want to know if I was his parent.

Good luck with it all.

Original poster

Greensneeze · 11/05/2009 16:17

I am a bit pissed off though - I would have considered withdrawing him from SATS anyway as I don't approve of them. I wasn't given a choice about this

and why the hell would you get a Y1 to sit a Y6 paper (if that's what it was, I'm only grasping at what squilly said)

I will have to have a word tmorrow I suppose [sigh]

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Original poster

Greensneeze · 11/05/2009 16:19

ok squilly that's pretty conclusive then

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Grammaticus · 11/05/2009 16:20

Every year in our school is doing SATs this week. Sounds to me as if your DS was given a higher level one than the others, to see what he is capable of.

AMumInScotland · 11/05/2009 16:20

Well, he hasn't had to face the farce of SATs, because he hasn't had the stupid stress-inducing run-up to the tests that are the big problem with SATs. He's been given a test to see how well he's doing at something.

I agree telling him he's very clever at it is not the best strategy though, but perhaps the teacher hasn't much experience of Aspergers yet, and doesn't realise that this isn't the best way to deal with his high achievement.

If I was you, I'd plan a meeting with the teacher to discuss how best to help him with his academic work, without adding to the social issues, so that you can all help him to deal with both sides of school life.

bigTillyMint · 11/05/2009 16:20

Because he's very bright!

KingCanuteIAm · 11/05/2009 16:23

If that is the case it is pretty out of order, if they had said to you that they would be interested to see what ds was capable of and could they see how he got on with the test, for a reference point, noting more. I would have said you should think about it, it may have merits, however doing this without even mentioning it to you is beyond a joke IMO!

There is a huge difference between a bit of classroom testing with your peers and being singled out for a paper children 5 years older than you are doing!

OrmIrian · 11/05/2009 16:23

Agree with muminscotland that the very worst bit of SATs is all the practice and the run-up. In yr 2 there was none of that and the pupils didn't even know what was going on.

It does seem off to do this without telling you.

But by the sound of it you have a very bright son.

ahundredtimes · 11/05/2009 16:26

It doesn't sound too off to me. It sounds like they handled it well and discreetly, and are doing it so they can get an understanding of his understanding, so he can be taught appropriately.

That's a good thing.

SATS like MinScot says are boring because class are taught for an exam. This hasn't happened here - his results will have no bearing on their league table etc. I think it's a positive thing they've done really.

He doesn't sound like he was upset by it - does he love being tested? This might have been his idea of heaven.

AMumInScotland · 11/05/2009 16:32

I'm curious about how people think a school ought to go about finding out how far ahead a very bright child is in a subject. Surely having the child sit a test, in a low-key way, with no chance or expectation of revision, is a fair way to find out how they are doing?

Maybe I'm biased - this is what we have in Scotland instead of SATs. It's a far better way, with far less stress all round, and allows the teacher to check out where each child has reached without requiring the whole "farce" of SATs.

I'm surprised how many parents seem to think it's unreasonable of the teacher to do such a thing.

The issue of telling a child with Aspergers that he's very clever is a different one, and the teacher needs some educating on that issue.

plug · 11/05/2009 16:32

Agree with ahundredtimes - this is an easy way for them to assess just how ahead of his peers your ds is and plan accordingly. FWIW, our whole school does tests this week and the results are included in the reports.

Original poster

Greensneeze · 11/05/2009 16:32

I feel that she should have consulted me first.

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plug · 11/05/2009 16:34

But if his whole class were doing a science test, why would she need to consult you? Is it the separation thing that bugs you?

morningsun · 11/05/2009 16:44

I remember them doing this with my ds ~said the science sat was just for X as he loved it so much~they only mentioned it at parents night though,long after the day.
I don't see why you would be so angry~I mean the teachers are in charge of him learning in school just like any other child ,they are not going to check every little thing with you.
Surely its going to be worse for him if you make a big fuss about it?

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