SATs Exams, are they a Good Idea?
How will Children Cope with Exams in Year 6?
Today, my daughters school held a meeting for the year 6 parents to discuss the SATs exams that are held in May. Both my wife and I decided we wanted to go, just as well really.
My daughters school hasn’t always had the best support from parents, this was evident by the seven parents (including the two of us) that made it to the school hall.
For us it was a bit dissapointing, as we always play an active role in our daughters learning. So to see so few there was sad. Of course, some parents have to work, but there are many that don’t and admitted that they just couldn’t be bothered.
A Brief Explanation
The session started with an explanation of what the SATs test involved. We have already been through the 11+ with our daughter, but this time we wanted to make sure she was prepared.
Unlike the 11+, the school can help the kids to get a better understanding of what the SATs test will require. They also told us what we can do as parents to prepare her for the test.
Our cosy little group were all looking at each other, trying to decide who would ask the first question.
A stout man in what appeared to be a tweed jacket asked if the SATs were going to be in test conditions. The deputy head teacher told us that it would, and they encouraged it as it prepares them for the many tests they have later in their school life.
Oh No, Not a Test!
My wife an I were a little worried about the idea of test conditions. This is because our daughter has problems with her joints and long periods of writing or sitting can cause her pain.
We had read that those with additional needs can ask for extra time to sit the test. We said to ourselves that we didn’t want to leave the meeting without clarifying this, and having something put in place.
We need not have worried, as the deputy head explained that if the child has special needs including extra time durings lessons, then they will get the same dispensation in the test.
I’ll Just Call MENSA
Next, they ran through a couple of example questions to show us what the children can expect.
I must say, that I was amazed at the level of knowledge they expect the children to have. There are lists of words that are placed in the test that the children need to spell. These words are random apparently and are designed to test a broad range of spelling.
The english parts are designed to make the children find the small pieces of relevent information as a detective would looking for clues.
They then went onto the maths sections. These would have previously been a year 8 level, but they have shifted everything down the year groups.
Although you can write down your calculations, the long division and other questions were very complicated. We were then told that teachers had struggled with some of the questions, I wasn’t sure if that was a good or bad thing.
Do we Need to Put Them Through it?
One of the questions asked was if the test needed to be taken. The answer was that unless the child wasn’t available through illness etc. then they would need to sit the test.
Even one or two of the teachers think that this test is a bad idea, but of course, they have to do their best for the children.
I know that sitting exams and tests becomes part of life in many jobs, but I wondered if testing 10 and 11 year olds was a good thing, or was it just a way for the government to get more statistics.
Of course we want our daughter to have the best start possible, but does it require a series of tests that last 4 days? Maybe more assessment of their work books would be more beneficial and also give a more accurate indication of their level.
We will of course be helping our daughter prepare the best way we can, and I hope that all other year 6 children have the best of luck in their SATs.
Originally published at stevenpdaws.wixsite.com on February 23, 2017.
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