SATS prepartion by schools? (and optional SATS)

[pheasantchick]

In another forum posting on SATs and the boycott of, people commented in passing on their schools input. One person had alot of SAT homework during hte Easter holidays.

This made me wonder how much do school actively prepare for SATS. I was aware that both my two were doing some work in school (for optional SATS) and the eldest one had slightly different homework because of it. However, the homework load or quanitity hadn't increased.

Whats other peoples experiences?

[Midget Man]

As you have probably read from the other thread that Midget was very overloaded by his school. I have 2 very chunky a4 booklet's at home that he was handed for revision and also a folder full of revision work that they had been going over in school. They have also held 3 mock SATs tests from November onward's. Was also given past papers to do for homework in both English and maths.

It was quite refreshing to hear of the odd one or two school's not doing anything overboard in regard's to the SATs, but sadly the majority of school's went too far I think.

[Milla]

outrageous. No homework that I'm aware of - don't really think he gets anything much at all. The occasional thing off a sheet and the odd dread project which he normally wangles to be about ducks, whatever the supposed subject matter. But nothing specific and our school is a high scorer. A fair bit in school and we were given details of websites we might like to click on to help (er, no, am giving him this year off really, school-wise, following GS test). Thank goodness they're over!!

[KS10]

Again, very little work sent home, but a fair amount done in class apparently. I was pleasantly surprised at how there appeared to be less homework in year 6 than in year 5.

[Milla]

as for homework, our school peaked in Reception (seriously, endless "word boxes" and a book a day to read and spellings and maths.) Been downhill ever since. I think that's why our school's done quite well. Hit 'em hard in Reception and then busk for the next 6 years.

[KS10]

I am actually for homework, but sometimes what they get is absolute rubbish.

[Tolstoy]

Last year DS1 got the odd Science SATs paper for homework and some of the children had extra help from a specialist teacher but these children had been receiving support anyway.

That said because of the arrival of a child in September who caused major disruption in the class and during the actual SATs tests our school ended up not getting the required number of level 4's. The current head had been working very hard to improve the reputation of the school with some success but hey ho what do the Ed B's of this world care about that and onto his list we go.

Due to the arrival of yet another new year 6 child this year who guess what is also disruptive and going to use up all our allocated percentage of NOT level 4's the school had to have an Easter revision club and lots of mock tests from then until this week. Mainly for those border line 4's who now have to get them to stop an otherwise good school being targeted. Obviously it wasn't in the head and the school's best interest to boycott as we would have been left with those bad results which we now have to try and explain away as a blip year.

SATs are not the problem it is the league tables and naming and shaming that creates this nonsense of pressure and artificial results.

[DarkEnergy]

DD in year 5 and has just had full set of QCA Maths and English papers, despite being told a couple of months ago that they would not be doing them. Confused.

[yoyo123]

DD in year 5 and has just had full set of QCA Maths and English papers, despite being told a couple of months ago that they would not be doing them. Confused.

The QCA papers are not "official" and are marked in school.

Perhaps they are using them as sats were intended , purely for a summative assessment to inform next years teaching?