SATS,do they matter to your child?

[cynical]

Having battled and watched my child struggle since Y1 with dyslexia and very little suport suddenly in Y6 a scribe is available and we have been told that he must use a scribe in the SATS or he will do really badly, L2 in English and L3 in Maths and so will end up in the bottom sets of his secondary school BUT with a scribe and plently of reminders to check his work he WILL get L4.I checked with the next school about the impact of the SATS on setting and was told that they administer their own testing as the SATS are not a true reflection of ability past or present. My cynical side tells me the schools sudden interest in my son has nothing to do with helping him to achieve but helping the school maintain it's high place in the tables, after all in a year group of 30 my son's marks could see this school slip down the tables. When tested he had an IQ of 120 and severe dyslexia, no specific help so far just constant past papers for SATS. Wouldn't consider 11+ for him unlike my eldest whose IQ is only slighty higher and at a highly selective school. Hoping to secure a specialist dyslexia place but have been told that it is highly unlikely with an IQ that high. Wouldn't be surprised if a holiday was suggested for SATS week if son won't comply with scribe. Good luck to all taking 11+.

[Guest55]

That is appalling - the support in the KS2 tests should mirror what is happening the rest of the time.

If a scribe will help he ought to have one now!! Go and see the Head and, if you don't get anywhere, take it higher.

[Bewildered]

My cynical side tells me the schools sudden interest in my son has nothing to do with helping him to achieve but helping the school maintain it's high place in the tables, after all in a year group of 30 my son's marks could see this school slip down the tables.

Sadly I would agree with your cynical side!!
You really can't help but feel extremely frustrated, that this extra support wasn't given in the previous years of his education, as well.
A recurring theme at primary YR6, is that, suddenly all stops are pulled out to get those extra few through.
Unfortunately the bottom line is always funding, and how those resources are then managed. If children are on a SEN statement with over a certain amount of hours allocated, extra funding is issued by the LA, for extra resources to support the child. If the child is on a statement of less than this, the school has to manage within it's own budget, and this is where things get tough. I know that the Head at our local primary is extremely frustrated that she cannot give all the children, that need it, the full support that each child requires.

[tehmonkey]

Having battled and watched my child struggle since Y1 with dyslexia and very little suport suddenly in Y6 a scribe is available and we have been told that he must use a scribe in the SATS or he will do really badly, L2 in English and L3 in Maths and so will end up in the bottom sets of his secondary school BUT with a scribe and plently of reminders to check his work he WILL get L4.I checked with the next school about the impact of the SATS on setting and was told that they administer their own testing as the SATS are not a true reflection of ability past or present. My cynical side tells me the schools sudden interest in my son has nothing to do with helping him to achieve but helping the school maintain it's high place in the tables, after all in a year group of 30 my son's marks could see this school slip down the tables. When tested he had an IQ of 120 and severe dyslexia, no specific help so far just constant past papers for SATS. Wouldn't consider 11+ for him unlike my eldest whose IQ is only slighty higher and at a highly selective school. Hoping to secure a specialist dyslexia place but have been told that it is highly unlikely with an IQ that high. Wouldn't be surprised if a holiday was suggested for SATS week if son won't comply with scribe. Good luck to all taking 11+.

SATs mean nothing to the children, they are basically for the schools to show off their results. At the end of the day i'd let your son ecide if he wants a scribe or not.

[watdad]

The more I look into the admissions process and the more disillusioned I am with the whole set up.

I spoke to the school about preparing the kids for our local admission test and they were not interested. Other schools in the area were running after school and breakfast clubs etc but ours were not interested, not part of the school curriculum and not their responsibility apparently.

My Sons grades have not gone up since the end of last year, but that’s OK apparently because he is still a 5+ ahead of where he needs to be at the end of the year 4b. Surely they should still be educating the kids and challenging their potential?

Its mock test after mock test we have had three this school year already, I have half mind not to let my Son not sit them just to upset the school, being one of their brighter kids it would hurt their statistics.

IMO the school have a responsibility to educate them for life, this includes helping them get into a suitable secondary school. SATs really are a waste of time used only for bragging rights in school league tables. For them to be meaningful somehow weight needs to be given to SATs in the secondary school administration process.

Sorry for rant, I’m not really bitter

[Tracy]

I think there will be a lot of kids going sick in Sats week.

[tehmonkey]

I think there will be a lot of kids going sick in Sats week.

It would be a good way to make a stand against SATs they just cause unnecessary stress

[Anne42]

Well said watdad , can't argue with that !

[neurotic kent mum]

But please remember the poor headteacher in all of this. They need the results for the school, for the parents, for the children so that more children come to the school so they have enough money to run the school effectively. My daughter worked incredibly hard pre 11+ and then was encouraged to think about work for sats. She responded as she was fond of the school and knew it mattered for the school. I am sorry for the lack of support others get from their schools but remember that it is not the schools that ask for these tests - they just have to perform as well as they are able.

[Guest55]

The Government has suggested that schools request a doctor's note for any absence in KS2 test week.