Y6 making me miserable

[MeanzBeanz]

I moved to Y6 this year (I didn't volunteer - no one wanted to do it!) and I am completely miserable. I love teaching children this age, but the SATs have of course brought a huge increase in focus on the data and pressure to get however many to GD/secure even if I know they can't do it in time. I know teachers who are no longer at the school 'helped' during SATs, but our head doesn't know this, and is expecting the results to be much higher than they will be!
And then after SATs, there will be the huge musical production which I am dreading as I have zero aptitude (or even enjoyment, really) for music or drama, and I know from previous years the lack of structure will be terrible.

This is the first time since I became a teacher that I have been dreading going back to school after the holidays. I'm really worried that because it's so hard to get Y6 teachers I'm going to be stuck here for years. People at school have started noticing, too. I've noticed people asking if I'm okay a lot!

Should I talk to my headteacher now, or wait until we are choosing year groups, or not say anything and just not put Y6 on the form? I know full well I don't really have a choice over which year group I teach, but my head is at least a nice person who might do it if she can.

I'd have a face to face and frank conversation now that you will not be teaching year 6 again. Be honest about the affect it's having on your mental health. This is coming from someone who started at a new school a few years ago in year 6 for the first time and by the end of September I'd already handed in my notice, I was gone by Feb half term. It broke me and we didn't have sats but brutal 11+ prep.

I would go and speak to the head as soon as term starts. Explain your thoughts.

Another one saying speak to your head. I used to love Y6 but it’s not what it was because of the SATs pressure .

You should be honest.
However- they do suddenly consolidate at the last minute- some of mine made expected just in time. It’s like it all falls into place. Are you due moderation?
It’s a slog I agree- I love it but I can imagine if you don’t then it’s horrific.

Thank you, everyone.

I know the focus on data and results at my school is nothing compared to some, so it's actually really surprised me how much it has affected me.

I'll talk to my head next week.

Ask for help, especially if your school is semi-reasonable.

WRT a show

• get the school to buy something in (Out of the Ark etc)
• something simple done very well will always look good

Have you got any good singers among the staff? Can you offer to do their PE/ Spanish/ French while they take Y6? Even if you don't, cultivate pals among the infant Nativity staff- they'll know how the stage microphones work etc. Also use Youtube to watch other schools' performances and see what works and what doesn't.

I've been year 6 for years. It's the shitty end of the stick indeed!
I too am saddled with impossible data demands. However, show your slt that it IS impossible. I have mine sit sats in October and December which shows exactly the progress they have made and what is likely to happen. My combined is appalling this year so i have pointed out that it will NOT get better without a TA and other teachers running boosters. We'll see what happens when I get back!

Year 6 is the culmination of every years teaching - i find the "optimistic" data at the end of yr 3 / 4 often fails to show what the child is like so it can be an uphill struggle explaining why a child has apparently not made expected progress across uks2. I cover my back by always having a progression column in my sats spreadsheets - they do always progress, they just don't always hit 100 combined!

I think at this stage if achild is getting 97.plus on a scaled score it can be done, with a lot of work. But itcannot all be done by you. I offer to run one subject booster sessions, but as the only year 6 teacher i'm buggered if i'm doing it all! In past years other teachers have offered as well. I do morning boosters - i find them more effective than after school.

If you can get your slt to stump up the cash, the 10 min cgp books are excellent revision and enormously time saving.

Buy a show. I hate the shows. Get the students to do their own leavers assembly. In the weeks after sats, get in banks, the police, upper schools to do sessions while you get some semblence of life back.

I would speak to your head as soon as you go back. I thought it was just a myth, but once you’re in Y6, it’s really hard to get out!

Start being frank, now, about any unrealistic expectations so the head/ SLT can’t claim it’s a surprise come June.

My best advice for after SATs is don’t let things slip. Keep the structure and keep everything tight. You can still be more relaxed and have structure!

Look on musicline for a show. Shakespeare Rocks and Robin and the Sherwood Hoodies went down well at my school.