SATs - what are they [ignorant sorry]

[crokky]

I keep seeing people talking about SATs. I have no idea what they are - I presume they are exams. My DS is 3 and he is at a nursery belonging to the school we are hoping he will go to for reception onwards. When do these SATs start? What exactly are they? When will DS have to do them (he starts reception in Sep 2010)?

When I was at school, the only public exams were GCSEs and A Levels. [old woman!]

SATs are assessments done in year 2 (7yo) year 6 (11yo) and they used to be done in year 9 too, but think they've stopped.
They are statutory at the moment, in maths, reading and writing (year 6 did Science up til this year, but no more!! Yippee! Sorry- year 6 teacher celebrating not having to revise science again ).
In my experience, in year 2 they are quite relaxed, they are marked by the children's teachers and lots of children aren't even told they're doing them, so they don't get stressed. Some schools are a bit more serious about them.
Year 6 SATs tend to be very stressful for the pupils and the teachers, unfortunately. Majority of schools do a lot of revision, because the school as a whole are judged by the results.
But, lots of people reckon they'll be jacked in soon, and assessments will be based on teacher assessment of pupils over the year. So your son may never do them (fingers crossed!).
Hope that answers your questions!

This is SATs week, which is why you have been hearing so much about it here. If you are in Scotland or Wales, then a different form of assessment is used.

Thank you both v much (am in England btw).

We are at an independant school, why do they not do sats?

They're not statutory at independent schools, npg1.

My dcs school is doing an "assessment" next week, but we haven't been told they're doing SATs - independent school, but I know they publish SATs results so I'm assuming that's what they're doing? (Ds is Year 1). Does that mean there is a standard "test" for SATs that everyone sits in the same week then? Is it externally moderated?