Should kids practice for the CAT exams on induction day?

[SunlampVexesEel]

... in assessing its own performance in terms of value added scores...

So the aim is to score as low as possible to make the school value added numbers look good.

[Chai]

<<the girls have already been allocated their forms in advance of these tests>>

Just wondering how they woud have allocated the girls into sets so far in advance...what criteria would they have used then, if not the SATS nor the CATs?

[moved]

CATs are to give the school an idea of uncoached, natrual ability. Absolutely no need to revise.

[Another worried Mum]

<<the girls have already been allocated their forms in advance of these tests>>

Just wondering how they woud have allocated the girls into sets so far in advance...what criteria would they have used then, if not the SATS nor the CATs?

The girls are allocated forms, but are not put into sets for any subjects in Y7. If you have a particular group of friends, then you can ask to be put in the same form as them - say if you have managed to meet up with others from different schools; or if you know others - perhaps in the same Guides, or attending the same Youth Club or Church. When DD was allocated her form (for the induction days in July) she had not yet completed her CAT and the SATs results weren't available (they were actually very late that year) - so the school didn't have access to the results before allocating forms.

DD is in Y8 and it is only this year that they have been put into sets for Maths. Y7 was taught mainly in forms, although they had different PE groups and different groups for CDT (as they are in smaller groups for this subject.)

Hope this helps!

[dinah]

Nearly every school in the country uses CAT tests or similar such as YELLIS. The are used to measure what is called 'base line 'information. They are said to predict where a child might be at the end of a Key Stage from where the start.They give predicted grades in a very loose sense.

Schools use them to track pupil progress . The might use them to prove value added ,assess under achievement or determine how departments perform against each other.They don't take into account attendance, family isssues , peer pressure and so on ;they are a guide only and should be seen as such. There is no need to worry about them they are just one of the tools schools use to make sure they are doing the best by the pupils.