Sats

northstandsteve

Watched Panarama last night and it touched on a subject close to me at the moment.My eldest started her sats yesterday,something I am totally against,i still remember the anxiety that my exams caused me at school and think it is totally unfair to pur 11 year olds through the same thing.A few years ago when she was taking the year 2 sats we were due to go on holiday.I asked the school who's benefit were the sats for her's or the schools.I was told it was for the schools and dont believe in using children as pawns to record how they are doing.By all means if you have a bright child and want them to go to a grammer school let them take the eleven plus.My daughter is extremely bright but like her old man a bit of a worrier,so I asked her if she wanted to take her 11 plus.She confirmed my thoughts and said no,I would much rather her go to a secondary school and work in the top groups at a pace she feels comfortable with than feel she has to keep up with everyone else at a grammer school.It didn't hurt me i left with 7 o'levels but stil managed to enjoy school without too much pressure.

Teachers were saying last night it's as if the government doesn't trust them to do their job properly and use these tests to make sure they are following their guidelines.I heard a parent comment on the radio today,that these children have 2 months left at primary school this should be a fun time not having to worry about tests,something I totally agree with.

I told her as I dropped her to school yesterday do your best love that's all that matters.

Heath Hero

I didn't feel under any pressure at the grammar school I went to. Other than when it came to cross country, of course. Then I felt like my head was going to explode.

WSS

[cite]Posted By: Heath Hero[/cite]I didn't feel under any pressure at the grammar school I went to. Other than when it came to cross country, of course. Then I felt like my head was going to explode.

Ditto - although in my final year they threatened to throw me out a couple of weeks before my A-Levels for distributing a somewhat controversial yearbook to over 300 students.

I don't think staff pornalikes went down very well.

I agree with your advice Steve though - as long as you know you've tried your best, what else can you do?

Salad

The theory of SATs is that the children don't even know they are doing anything other than just another test. Of course these days most schools spend a month or two doing nothing but prepare and practice for them. No fun for the children (or even the teachers come to that). Children at that age should be enjoying learning not under the artificial pressure of tests that have become counter-productive.

Red_Pete_in_Dubai

Not sure I agree with you NSS. When it comes to exams, most of the pressure on kids actually comes from their parents. If you take that away, most kids should actually enjoy exams. I know I did.

Ledge

sats are basically a waste of space steve they serve no purpose other than to nake sure the school are hitting their targets

My eldest had all this last year and they say oh it is to determine what level they'll go into at secondary school. Pile of jank - we asked this at every secondary school we viewed and they all said didn't matter one iota to them because they had their own way of determining what level kids were at.

Low_Ears

Tricky one this for me. My step-daughter is doing them at the moment and has had piles of homework for about 2 months in the build up to them which I think is totally wrong (especially as I spend ages helping her). At the same time though as long as the parents and teachers approach them in the right manner, i.e. say to the kids not to worry and just do your best so they don't feel any pressure it is good practice for them.
Of course, we all know that they are meaningless in themselves as far as what the results mean to that child.

IdleHans

usual bureaucratic government red tape and b0llix.
Agree with all points re sats above - they're there for the school, and I'd counsel my kids not to give a toss about them, just do their best without feeling any pressure. If schools are spending a whole term practising for these then the school is at fault, though you can understand their logic. "If that's what we're measured on then that's what we'll do". As alway, badly thought through regulation with no consideration for the practical consequences.

It is more pervasive than that though. Mrs Hans works in a nursery for peanuts wages, and has to spend about three hours unpaid time every week writing up observations on two and three year olds' progress, for no purpose other than the government reuires it. everyone in that system knows these reports are not used for anything, and its paperwork for its own sake. Sadly she's too consciencious to tell em to stick it.

BTW, what's a grammar school?

northstandsteve

yep

nth_london_addick

I am with you on this one NSS too much pressure on them too young will ruin them for the big exams we all know how much our children actually take on board and think about before Joe came along i didnt realise just how much kids take in and how much worries them.

charltonkeston

SATs are a way of monitoring schools rather than childrens ability IMO. If they are used as a tool to improve education all well and good but if ,as I suspect, they are not the children would be better served by putting extra PE lessons on the time table.