KS1 SATS??

[CardyMow]

I am a bit confused...in May 2009, my DS1 (7yo now, Y3) took his KS1 SATS, and due to DS2's (6yo atm, Y1) SEN, I'm very concerned (lets just say, my DD is SEN and had an horrific time with Y6 SATS, not keen to repeat the experience..school not great either, but no choice on that one in my area/situation). I was chatting to some of the other mums in the playground this morning, a few of whom are adament that KS1 SATS have been abolished...Is this true? Bearing in mind that it's only half a year since DS1 took his, has there been that much of a change in such a short time period? DS2 would be due to sit them in May 2011 (15 months from now) if they are still around. Could someone in the know please enlighten me...

Yup to equivalent fractions, yup to ratios, in fact to all of the above. The Headteacher takes a small group of Y2 G&T for extra lessons twice a week, he does it for Y2 & Y6 G&T. They just don't do F'all to help SEN dc's...(as an aside, DS1 actually taught me how to do equivalent fractions...). At 6yo. (Double ). Though DS1 doesn't get this now he's in Y3, he is in the higher set in his year, but I do work with him at home, with telephone support from my Nan, who taught for 30+ years, and now tutors Y6 pupils for their 11+.

Thing is these DO matter in that the results are used to set the children going forward. I will try to explain what I mean.

In our primary the top tables are getting extension work and are covering things in greater depth and speed. Are the 'positive outliers' of the future being created?

Those at the 'bottom' tables are just not going to be able to catch them up, they are streaking further and further ahead.

The top tables are going to get the 'highest' scores and the bottom table the 'lowest' scores given these SATS are teacher assessed and the teacher decides on who sits at the various groups at the various 'ability' tables. Not black and white but the general trend is likely to be like this.

Thing is, I believe you could sit and average child at the 'top table', one who sits in the middle of the class generally, tell him he's capable of being there and watch him find his own level within this group in time. I have seen in happen in other classes in other places in the past.

Children are moved in our primary, but it's generally fairly rare, they don't tend to jump about too much (maybe one or two move a term.

My DS missed most of reception and there are others in similar positions. The playing field doesn't seem that level, if they end up in the bottom sets they could always lag behind those that are believed to be higher 'ability' worse they could lose confidence and it's self belief that takes you forward.

I was reading up about 'gifted and talented' at this age (year one and it year two) and it said that this should mean something like 'at the moment this child is further ahead in terms of learning than the peer group' not inherently gifted or having more innate intelligence? Is this the general wider view? (Of course there may be rare geniuses but these are statistically extremely uncommon).

Perhaps things can and often do level out? But from what I am seeing generally if you are in the bottom set for Maths at 7 you are unlikely to be towards the top of your class in Maths at 11, when studies and everything else points to there being no real reason as to why you shouldn't. You might 'believe' that you are not as 'clever' as your top set counterparts and I'd hate for this to happen as young as 7 or 8.

Are these worries completely unfounded?

Just to add I've seen that those considered more 'able' are given much more challenging books, even if they can't initially cope with them. Not that they shouldn't be stretched but I've noticed that the same doesn't apply to children that sit in the middle of the 'ability' range. The worry is that these may lose confidence and be adversely affected?

Hi,

I have just received my son's report and am confused.

On his reports were above average for year group, average for year gruop and below average.

He got average on everything but this all seems a bit vague to me.

Can anyone shed any light on this?
Is this average to the school or country?

Should i be asking the school for levels?

Frustrated,

many thanks

Well, if you tell us what year he is in, I can let you know what is considered as the national expectation for his age group.