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SATs
Former Member
Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
How do I go about withdrawing my child from them? Is there a letter I can write or do we just pull sickies that week?
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Last resort is the one you suggest, of course.
I'm not sure you can pull out of the year 6 ones easily to be honest... you could try speaking to the school, but I think it'll have to go higher up than that. x
EDIT: Also, when your child starts high school they will probably be put in the bottom sets, as the high school picks the sets based on the SAT's results, and the CAT's which are half way through year 8.
Not if it's a decent secondary, they won't. Most secondaries will have a transition process which includes speaking to the Y6 teachers to find out about attainment, ability and general behaviour and attitude. If a child is Level 5 (say) throughout and they don't take their SATs for whatever reason then the secondary are aware of this and will stream appropriately.
Katralla, the best bet would be to speak to your headteacher. Bypass your class teacher because they probably wouldn't know and would just be a middle man. Your head is the best option. If your child is a high achiever you will have a battle as they will want your child to make up statistics :yeees:
I hate SATs
I go to a pretty small high school (only just over 1000 people) and I know that all our GTG's are done by SAT's and CAT's scores. There's a boy who came from a private school, and he was put straight in the bottom set because he didn't do SAT's, and because I failed mine I was in the lower sets as well (even though I got one of the highest CAT scores in the country) x
My school starts at year 8 though
Ahh, not round here. The other 3 main high school have over 2000 people, nearly 2000 people and just under 1000. Although, the ones with 2000 have year 7s
That's pretty normal :L x
I bet it takes some logistical wizardry to organise that kind of school
3,500 would be pretty big
It would be best to speak to the school (Katralla, that is) and if this is the case then you can hopefully come to some sort of arrangement with the secondary. I've never come across a secondary sorting their classes and sets purely on SATs results and I've worked with 3 different secondaries during transition from Y6-7. All three were interested in the child as a whole and results across the year rather than on one test. And those who missed their SATs due to illness or whatever were placed where the teachers thought rather than in the lowest set.
When I did mine, (year 9) they were made out to be the most important thing ever. They're a waste of time too. At least with GCSEs, A-Levels and a degree, you have something to show for them and they do generally get you somewhere.
Pfft, I cannot even remember mine
I know the class teacher isn't keen on them as I asked her about them at parent teacher meeting last, and I asked last year. I will speak to the head. If need by I can always withdraw her from school for a bit, and then re-register her, or something.
With SATs, it is possible to move sets for GCSEs - I did. With me, I was put in top for maths, english & science. I told my maths tutor that I was struggling and could I please move down a set and moved with no hassle. With English, my tutor asked me if I wanted to move - she felt I was struggling and it would be better for me.
because i hate grammar schools. i find it really bizaare that people believe they can distinguish who will do academically well at the age of 12/13. i dont see the need for such a definitive seperation in the first place and i dont think you can honestly assume a person's academic potential when they are in year 6 and still playing with conkers.
Umm thats what i thought, I swear my SATa from what I remember was at yr8
oopsy..
No... there are SATs in year 6. But as far as I'm aware they're not used to determine who gets into grammar schools, that's done by the 11+. But as littlemissy said they help create league tables etc.
I don't think I knew KS3 ones had been abolished. Now they were pointless, we were pushed to do the extra/advanced papers or whatever they were called to try and let level 8 and 9s. I guess for the league tables, though didn't realise that at the time!
I agree. I'd prefer (as did sometimes happen) smaller tests at the end of each unit. Much less pressure.