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SATs strike?

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By (user no longer on site) OP   
over a year ago

I see thousands of parents are keeping kids off school because of the "rigorous " SATs tests.

What are people's feelings on this....didn't we all get tested at the end of infant and then again the end of junior school?

Aren't testing and assessment part of school life...in fact of all walks of life? Or is it the content of the tests that is the problem?

The Grammar Police from the forums may like to comment on tests that are looking at just that...spelling and punctuation etc....

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Haven't they scrapped the Spelling Punctuation and Grammar test as it was leaked? Our daughter isn't quite old enough for SATs yet. I think you need to test to check progress but does it need to be so formal at an early age is the question.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

1) It's teaching the kids a bad example ie that they can kick and scream and get their own way

2)I hope each parent receives a fine for unauthorised absence.

When I was at school a long time ago, we had tests and 'exams' and although we hated them, we did them because the school said we had to do them.

Its no wonder we are breeding generation after generation of wet weekends and wimpy people.

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By *lik and PaulCouple
over a year ago

cahoots

I had constant tests and then exams which decided which school you could go to next. Although I was not a fan of school I at least got a good education.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex

I think there are possibly better ways of protesting but I also feel glad that there are parents interested enough in the education system as a whole and the curriculum and teaching methods in particular to take action. I think making your voice heard and showing our children that they don't have to lay down and take what authority gives them is a good thing.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Workplaces have reporting systems, on the job training requirements etc. It never goes away.

Its a life requirement.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Isn't the idea of it to catch kids who may be getting left behind and so give them extra help if needed? Not sure why anyone would oppose that but clearly some people feel strongly about it so would like to hear what concerns they have.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex


"Isn't the idea of it to catch kids who may be getting left behind and so give them extra help if needed? Not sure why anyone would oppose that but clearly some people feel strongly about it so would like to hear what concerns they have."

The current protests are because they're being made harder and the concern that education is becoming no more than a preparation for a series of tests.

I think that people should protest if they are dissatisfied with the education their children are getting. Possibly showing their children how to write a properly worded letter to Nicky Morgan would serve their purpose better, they would know that going through the proper channels first is a good idea, get practice in letter writing and see that their parents care about their education.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I detest the SATS with a passion.

A lot of teachers will agree. When I taught I felt it was a LOT of pressure to put year 9 pupils under. They were basically have GCSE level stress dumped on them, but at age 13-14?

And now they are doing it to six year olds?!

Six year olds should be learning through play. They should predominantly be doing a lot of running, jumping and climbing and exploring different ideas. They shouldn't be sat down all year learning what a conjunction is!

I have a lot of friends with kids this age. A lot of friends who have children coming home every night calling themselves stupid and thick and idiots because they don't understand the schoolwork.

Why on earth are children labelling themselves as failures at age 6-7?

It's actually sick. It's going to cause an awful lot of mental health issues as this generation gets older, and surprise surprise, child mental health is already stretched way beyond capacity.

Plus there's research out there that shows a curriculum based on testing is one of the worst ways to facilitate learning for kids.

And finally, Year 2 teachers have had to spend all year grilling their 6 and 7 year olds to get them to pass the test.

Schools have pressured these kids because the schools are then judged on how well they performed.

So really, schools that have good SATS results are actually schools who've put a lot of pressure on their kids.

Sick. Just sick. And I can't understand why they are doing it.

And aren't they testing 11 year olds to GCSE levels now? They jumped the difficulty of the tests with no warning or gradual increase. So that's an entire year group who's also going to think they've failed.

Think about it.

Do you enjoy doing something you think you are rubbish at? Or are you drawn to engage in things you think you are good at?

We tell kids they are rubbish at learning and they won't want to do it any more.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"The current protests are because they're being made harder and the concern that education is becoming no more than a preparation for a series of tests."

What's the alternative to a testing based education system?

How do we say: Yes, this child can read to the expected level. Yes, this child can perform the expected arithmetic calculations for their age, and this child can read material of an acceptable level? How do we do that without testing them? Do we just apply the current teaching methods and cross our fingers that the kids all get it?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Isn't the idea of it to catch kids who may be getting left behind and so give them extra help if needed? Not sure why anyone would oppose that but clearly some people feel strongly about it so would like to hear what concerns they have."

Tony, see my rant. Teachers are perfectly capable of doing their own in class assessments every single day and catch kids who are falling behind. There's no need to subject these already struggling kids to formal test conditions.

And to be fair, they need to spend less money on testing and more on support as there is very little of it to go around.

A lot of schools actively set up failing kids to fail further so they are removed from the school. Especially academies.

I know of one academy locally who's refusing point blank to take on any statemented children (kids with special needs) because it will affect their exam results.

So those kids have been in mainstream primary and have to be told by their parents they aren't allowed to go to the same school as their friends.

It's bordering on unlawful. Stupid grrrr academies.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"The current protests are because they're being made harder and the concern that education is becoming no more than a preparation for a series of tests.

What's the alternative to a testing based education system?

How do we say: Yes, this child can read to the expected level. Yes, this child can perform the expected arithmetic calculations for their age, and this child can read material of an acceptable level? How do we do that without testing them? Do we just apply the current teaching methods and cross our fingers that the kids all get it?"

Some kids just don't read that well. Maybe because they are Prince and concentrating on their music. Maybe because they are Einstein and going to be a science genius.

You drag these kids away from their passions and make them hate school and they are unlikely to achieve their potential.

Mental health is more important than good grades! Kids WANT to learn if you take all the pressure off. I didn't believe it but I've seen it myself over and over now.

Google Sudbury Valley School. We need more schools like that!

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex


"The current protests are because they're being made harder and the concern that education is becoming no more than a preparation for a series of tests.

What's the alternative to a testing based education system?

How do we say: Yes, this child can read to the expected level. Yes, this child can perform the expected arithmetic calculations for their age, and this child can read material of an acceptable level? How do we do that without testing them? Do we just apply the current teaching methods and cross our fingers that the kids all get it?"

Current teaching methods are test based...this is making it more so. I haven't said that we shouldn't test children I've said that unhappy parents should protest.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"I detest the SATS with a passion.

A lot of teachers will agree. When I taught I felt it was a LOT of pressure to put year 9 pupils under. They were basically have GCSE level stress dumped on them, but at age 13-14?

And now they are doing it to six year olds?!

Six year olds should be learning through play. They should predominantly be doing a lot of running, jumping and climbing and exploring different ideas. They shouldn't be sat down all year learning what a conjunction is!

I have a lot of friends with kids this age. A lot of friends who have children coming home every night calling themselves stupid and thick and idiots because they don't understand the schoolwork.

Why on earth are children labelling themselves as failures at age 6-7?

It's actually sick. It's going to cause an awful lot of mental health issues as this generation gets older, and surprise surprise, child mental health is already stretched way beyond capacity.

Plus there's research out there that shows a curriculum based on testing is one of the worst ways to facilitate learning for kids.

And finally, Year 2 teachers have had to spend all year grilling their 6 and 7 year olds to get them to pass the test.

Schools have pressured these kids because the schools are then judged on how well they performed.

So really, schools that have good SATS results are actually schools who've put a lot of pressure on their kids.

Sick. Just sick. And I can't understand why they are doing it.

And aren't they testing 11 year olds to GCSE levels now? They jumped the difficulty of the tests with no warning or gradual increase. So that's an entire year group who's also going to think they've failed.

Think about it.

Do you enjoy doing something you think you are rubbish at? Or are you drawn to engage in things you think you are good at?

We tell kids they are rubbish at learning and they won't want to do it any more.

"

An education based on running jumping and climbing? Erm I send my kids to school to be educated, they can play at home.

The 6 year old SATs aren't with them sat in a hall with a giant clock and retired teachers pacing up and down while the kids sit down to a 3 hour paper. It's geared towards 6 year olds. Teachers aren't 'grilling 6 year olds'.

I understand opposition to it, and some people have good points, but you're just ranting about a subject you clearly haven't looked into further than a friend doesn't like it. Sorry, but that's what I read from your post.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Current teaching methods are test based...this is making it more so. I haven't said that we shouldn't test children I've said that unhappy parents should protest."

Ok fair enough, so what is the alternative to a test based system?

Fully agree people being unhappy should definitely protest. I may agree or disagree with what you say but I defend to the death your right to say it (bit of a Voltaire paraphrase).

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"I detest the SATS with a passion.

A lot of teachers will agree. When I taught I felt it was a LOT of pressure to put year 9 pupils under. They were basically have GCSE level stress dumped on them, but at age 13-14?

And now they are doing it to six year olds?!

Six year olds should be learning through play. They should predominantly be doing a lot of running, jumping and climbing and exploring different ideas. They shouldn't be sat down all year learning what a conjunction is!

I have a lot of friends with kids this age. A lot of friends who have children coming home every night calling themselves stupid and thick and idiots because they don't understand the schoolwork.

Why on earth are children labelling themselves as failures at age 6-7?

It's actually sick. It's going to cause an awful lot of mental health issues as this generation gets older, and surprise surprise, child mental health is already stretched way beyond capacity.

Plus there's research out there that shows a curriculum based on testing is one of the worst ways to facilitate learning for kids.

And finally, Year 2 teachers have had to spend all year grilling their 6 and 7 year olds to get them to pass the test.

Schools have pressured these kids because the schools are then judged on how well they performed.

So really, schools that have good SATS results are actually schools who've put a lot of pressure on their kids.

Sick. Just sick. And I can't understand why they are doing it.

And aren't they testing 11 year olds to GCSE levels now? They jumped the difficulty of the tests with no warning or gradual increase. So that's an entire year group who's also going to think they've failed.

Think about it.

Do you enjoy doing something you think you are rubbish at? Or are you drawn to engage in things you think you are good at?

We tell kids they are rubbish at learning and they won't want to do it any more.

An education based on running jumping and climbing? Erm I send my kids to school to be educated, they can play at home.

The 6 year old SATs aren't with them sat in a hall with a giant clock and retired teachers pacing up and down while the kids sit down to a 3 hour paper. It's geared towards 6 year olds. Teachers aren't 'grilling 6 year olds'.

I understand opposition to it, and some people have good points, but you're just ranting about a subject you clearly haven't looked into further than a friend doesn't like it. Sorry, but that's what I read from your post."

The curriculum this year has totally changed from previous years. Lots of sitting down and writing. Kids are not designed to be doing that yet. It's not good for their developing brains.

Look into the research that shows brain development in children. Movement is crucial to specific skills.

Did you know that children can't read until they learn to skip? And that being able to cross the midline (core stability and balance) are crucial for good handwriting?

Movement is really important for small kids.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Tony, see my rant. Teachers are perfectly capable of doing their own in class assessments every single day and catch kids who are falling behind."

Trust in the teachers then. When I was tested at 13 I was top of the year in geography. The next two years I had a geography teacher who told us every class to copy down pages x to y from a book. Homework was copy pages a to b.

At my 16 year old test paper I had not one clue what to put.

There are some atrocious teachers out there who couldn't give a rat's arse about the kids they teach.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex


"Current teaching methods are test based...this is making it more so. I haven't said that we shouldn't test children I've said that unhappy parents should protest.

Ok fair enough, so what is the alternative to a test based system?

Fully agree people being unhappy should definitely protest. I may agree or disagree with what you say but I defend to the death your right to say it (bit of a Voltaire paraphrase)."

There isn't an alternative to tests we need to know that the woman performing brain surgery on us or the man mending our car knows what they are doing and does it to an agreed standard. What in my opinion we don't need are six year olds being taught to achieve results in tests that will be used to judge how well a school is doing.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex


"Tony, see my rant. Teachers are perfectly capable of doing their own in class assessments every single day and catch kids who are falling behind.

Trust in the teachers then. When I was tested at 13 I was top of the year in geography. The next two years I had a geography teacher who told us every class to copy down pages x to y from a book. Homework was copy pages a to b.

At my 16 year old test paper I had not one clue what to put.

There are some atrocious teachers out there who couldn't give a rat's arse about the kids they teach. "

Testing doesn't change that I'm afraid.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Some kids just don't read that well. Maybe because they are Prince and concentrating on their music. Maybe because they are Einstein and going to be a science genius."

Two good examples of people taught in a much stricter test based system than we currently have.

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By *piritsonfabCouple
over a year ago

Nottingham

I think it's the standard that's expected at the wrong ages and in the wrong things.

I read the tests for 11 yo in English and I only knew one answer. I also know that many of the children will barely be able to read the questions let alone answer them and that's not because of bad teaching it's a bad system... Sadly.

The ones destined to be brain surgeons and so on can specialise later. They don't need it at age 11.

It's a political move to make whole swathes of children fail to give muscle to the government's plans to privatise schools completely.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

To my mind, the issue is that children are being taught to pass tests, not to enjoy learning. Why do 7 year olds need to know what a conjunction or a determiner is? Who really cares if their child can identify a subordinate clause? What good does knowing this information do our children?

Children should be given the ability to choose (to an extent) how and what they learn. At primary level, kids should be taught how to do things. How to read and write and perform basic mathematics to a reasonable level, but also how to research things, how to verify 'facts', how to construct an argument/opinion, and more importantly how to get along with others, how to play, share, take turns.

Many children arent academically gifted, and thats fine, not everyone is. Taking the emphasis off the written word and allowing these children to build or present ideas and homework in a different way would give them much more self esteem.

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By *icecouple561Couple
Forum Mod
over a year ago

East Sussex


"Some kids just don't read that well. Maybe because they are Prince and concentrating on their music. Maybe because they are Einstein and going to be a science genius.

Two good examples of people taught in a much stricter test based system than we currently have. "

Einstein was in favour of teaching kids to think outside the box though and I think a system based on tests that disapproves of anyone who objects is in danger of stifling original thought.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

But it's the parents claiming their little darlings are soooo stressed about it all

No they're not ... it's those precious over protective parents that molly coddle their kids, and imprint their own insecurities on their kids that's making them so stressed

Everyone, every year, has end of year tests, and these are no different, just standardised so that's there's a meaningful comparison beaten schools

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Our eldest is doing his this week, I'm so proud of him he's dealing very well with it, he's achieving 80% results on his practice ones it hasn't affected him at all just like it didn't me, I don't see a problem, he will be in high school on September and that's not an easy ride so I'm certain he manage a few "tests "

X

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By *opsy RogersWoman
over a year ago

London


"The current protests are because they're being made harder and the concern that education is becoming no more than a preparation for a series of tests.

What's the alternative to a testing based education system?

How do we say: Yes, this child can read to the expected level. Yes, this child can perform the expected arithmetic calculations for their age, and this child can read material of an acceptable level? How do we do that without testing them? Do we just apply the current teaching methods and cross our fingers that the kids all get it?

Some kids just don't read that well. Maybe because they are Prince and concentrating on their music. Maybe because they are Einstein and going to be a science genius.

You drag these kids away from their passions and make them hate school and they are unlikely to achieve their potential.

Mental health is more important than good grades! Kids WANT to learn if you take all the pressure off. I didn't believe it but I've seen it myself over and over now.

Google Sudbury Valley School. We need more schools like that!"

Your posts have made me so emotional. Thank you from the bottom of my heart that you understand how children learn and how they are being used just to make the vile system look good.

My 12 yo granddaughter; a clever, funny, bright and very popular girl with a level of empathy I've never seen in anyone before has been labelled with a 'processing disorder'. According to tests, she is where she should be but if you heard her read or try to explain something, you'd know that

she is destined for something outside the current education system and will likely struggle far more than her peers.

There is nothing out there that supports her uniqueness apart from her hardworking family, trying to convince her she is not stupid.

Let them play.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I have two children going through SAT's this month. The youngest has barely mentioned it, the school have made it clear that it will not be strict and the children are to treat it as any other workpaper that have done previously.

The elder one, has theirs next week, again no stress and SAT's have hardly been mentioned.

My eldest sat theirs last year and excelled, even passed the level 6 paper.

Perhaps the pupils that are stressed learn this from their parents attitudes and behaviours? From what I've seen it's either pushy or molly coddling parents that cause the biggest problems in children not school or tests.

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By *eavenNhellCouple
over a year ago

carrbrook stalybridge


"I detest the SATS with a passion.

A lot of teachers will agree. When I taught I felt it was a LOT of pressure to put year 9 pupils under. They were basically have GCSE level stress dumped on them, but at age 13-14?

And now they are doing it to six year olds?!

Six year olds should be learning through play. They should predominantly be doing a lot of running, jumping and climbing and exploring different ideas. They shouldn't be sat down all year learning what a conjunction is!

I have a lot of friends with kids this age. A lot of friends who have children coming home every night calling themselves stupid and thick and idiots because they don't understand the schoolwork.

Why on earth are children labelling themselves as failures at age 6-7?

It's actually sick. It's going to cause an awful lot of mental health issues as this generation gets older, and surprise surprise, child mental health is already stretched way beyond capacity.

Plus there's research out there that shows a curriculum based on testing is one of the worst ways to facilitate learning for kids.

And finally, Year 2 teachers have had to spend all year grilling their 6 and 7 year olds to get them to pass the test.

Schools have pressured these kids because the schools are then judged on how well they performed.

So really, schools that have good SATS results are actually schools who've put a lot of pressure on their kids.

Sick. Just sick. And I can't understand why they are doing it.

And aren't they testing 11 year olds to GCSE levels now? They jumped the difficulty of the tests with no warning or gradual increase. So that's an entire year group who's also going to think they've failed.

Think about it.

Do you enjoy doing something you think you are rubbish at? Or are you drawn to engage in things you think you are good at?

We tell kids they are rubbish at learning and they won't want to do it any more.

An education based on running jumping and climbing? Erm I send my kids to school to be educated, they can play at home.

The 6 year old SATs aren't with them sat in a hall with a giant clock and retired teachers pacing up and down while the kids sit down to a 3 hour paper. It's geared towards 6 year olds. Teachers aren't 'grilling 6 year olds'.

I understand opposition to it, and some people have good points, but you're just ranting about a subject you clearly haven't looked into further than a friend doesn't like it. Sorry, but that's what I read from your post."
but they cant play at home as they are being sent home with masses of "homework " after a stressed day being crammed for tests funny how the Scandinavian countrys kids this age are just starting school having been given time to grow and play

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Sir Ken Robinson..........My Hero

Watch the Ted Talk, it's one of the most watched talks of all time....brilliant

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By *he Queen of TartsWoman
Forum Mod
over a year ago

My Own Little World

My 11yr old has her SATs in the next few weeks and the teachers do seem to put quite a bit of pressure on the kids -this is very important, do well as the results can affect the rest of your life kinda pressure which I feel is very unnecessary for 10-11yr old kids.

Yes it is a good idea to try your best on tests, she had a mock math test last week and was upset that she 'only' got 92%

I told her it was a brilliant result and I was so proud of her, but as she is in the gifted math group at school she felt she should have got 100%. The next day she came home happy because she got 100% in her spelling grammar mock but it still bugged her about the math, how much of this is teacher induced and how much is her own fastidiousness I don't know.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"I have two children going through SAT's this month. The youngest has barely mentioned it, the school have made it clear that it will not be strict and the children are to treat it as any other workpaper that have done previously.

The elder one, has theirs next week, again no stress and SAT's have hardly been mentioned.

My eldest sat theirs last year and excelled, even passed the level 6 paper.

Perhaps the pupils that are stressed learn this from their parents attitudes and behaviours? From what I've seen it's either pushy or molly coddling parents that cause the biggest problems in children not school or tests.

"

I get this but I also see the other side, yes my Les doing well isn't stressed etc, my nephew the exact same age who had a stroke and. Massive bleed on the brain when he was 3 is paralysed on his left side, learning difficulties etc, well he is so nervous about them he has the exact same tests as my lad and when it comes to education he isn't Molly coddled, so in these circumstances it's a different ball game and Yh maybe for children like him things should be tweaked x

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By *heBirminghamWeekendMan
over a year ago

here

This kind of crazy action doesnt surprise me.

And then they wonder why little johnny or jeannie cant read, rite or do rithmatic!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The kids aren't going to suddenly exhibit stress this week.

It's he fact that the curriculum is designed for the test now. Schools have to push those kids to pass the test.

They aren't teaching them to learn. They are teaching to the test. And studies have shown that's the worst way to learn.

Even you parents with high achieving kids who are breezing it should realise if they were taught in a more relaxed way, they'd be achieving more. Their skill set would be better. They would be happier. Their skills taken into the employment world would be more advanced. You just wouldn't be able to be all smug that little Johnny got x score on their SATS.

And to whoever said trust the teachers - no teacher has chosen to do SATS. It's the government.

And it's a government move to get kids to fail so that a) schools can be privatised to save money. And b) there are more and more parents in ther thousands who are homeschooling now because of the way schools are going.

That saves them approx £12k per kid per year.

If you homeschool you get ZERO financial help from the government.

And (and this is the bit that I type with a lump in my throat) if your child has special needs and can't cope with mainstream school because of anxiety or other problems, you get ZERO financial help. Oh, they do like to fine you though.

Special schools cost local authorities a fortune to send a child to so they will avoid that at all costs and hope you homeschool.

Local authorities will lie through their teeth to say your child isn't eligible for help, or help doesn't exist to try to avoid spending the money on it.

Because really, there isn't any money for the amount of kids that need help now.

And why is that?

Because schools have made surviving school so tough that kids are dropping out daily.

And I can't believe how many people think this is ok.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I could rant about this all day.

I've even had an educational psychologist say they support me if I decided to boycott the SATS because they believe that they are damaging.

And moreover, scientifically completely inaccurate!

They told me that in order to have a test that has any kind of meaningful results, it needs to be reliable.

That means if you repeat the test you get the same results.

And you know what? Small children are notoriously impossible to retest to get the same results. They vary wildly day to day in their abilities. The test is going to be meaningless!

So everyone wanting the SATS in young kids - please bear in mind your kids results actually mean nothing and if they took them on a different day they'd get a completely different result.

It's good that our kids were pushed all year for a meaningless test.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Sats are pointless! !!...especially when they move the criteria for each grade every year. ..the move from primary to secondary education are meant to use the results from year 6 sats to decide which class the child goes into but they are accessed again because between sats exams in May til they move up is 4 months. ..

teacher assessments are all that are needed ...it's a much better system to check on the progress of a child ...speak to any primary school teacher and they will certainly agree that sats are pointless and just another added pressure on the school, teacher and child!

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By *ervent_fervourMan
over a year ago

Halifax


"The current protests are because they're being made harder and the concern that education is becoming no more than a preparation for a series of tests.

What's the alternative to a testing based education system?

How do we say: Yes, this child can read to the expected level. Yes, this child can perform the expected arithmetic calculations for their age, and this child can read material of an acceptable level? How do we do that without testing them? Do we just apply the current teaching methods and cross our fingers that the kids all get it?"

Teacher appraisals.

Testing is divisive, artificial, and creates competition between schools for places, which means the 'better' schools get 'better' kids and everyone else just gets left behind and underfunded.

Education as a market economy.

Great innit.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

From the minute a child starts nursery they are assessed on their ability!From the tender age of 3 they have aassessments and tests which carry on throughout their school life. ..there are no need for government based sats!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Having had 4 children through school and sats, I really can not understand why all the fuss.

All of ours did sats. Were supported well via school and teachers and supported well at home with revision by us. Which, is how I see it should be.

Exams/learning are part of life. Being taught how to learn is something everyone benefits from all through life.

This system has worked for all of our childen and enabled them to get to where they are now. We have a teacher, a serving Army soldier, an engineer and our youngest is sitting his GCSE's and expected to get A's in every subject. I really can not complain about any aspect of their educational life.

xx

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

they say it causes unessarry stress to childrens lives sitting tests/exams but what utter bullshit !!! fine each parent for keeping their child out of school I say !

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By *ervent_fervourMan
over a year ago

Halifax


"Having had 4 children through school and sats, I really can not understand why all the fuss.

All of ours did sats. Were supported well via school and teachers and supported well at home with revision by us. Which, is how I see it should be.

Exams/learning are part of life. Being taught how to learn is something everyone benefits from all through life.

This system has worked for all of our childen and enabled them to get to where they are now. We have a teacher, a serving Army soldier, an engineer and our youngest is sitting his GCSE's and expected to get A's in every subject. I really can not complain about any aspect of their educational life.

xx"

Teachers and heads(their union is thinking about striking over them)don't think it benefits the children in any way. Socially, academically, or psychologically.

The government thinks otherwise.

WHo would you trust to have the best interest of your child atheart(and with greater knowledge on way or the other)?

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The issue I'm seeing about these tests are that children who were performing to a high standard are suddenly finding themselves in the lower bracket due to so dumb test. I know from a personal perspective that when I feel I'm failing I lose interest. Now imagine a group of 6 year olds doing exams and finding out their not as bright as the education minister wants them to be?

Lots of teachers are now on performance related pay,tests like this make the kids look like they are not learning causing schools to think the teachers are not performing well enough and keeping wages low, doesn't inspire teachers to teach.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Having had 4 children through school and sats, I really can not understand why all the fuss.

All of ours did sats. Were supported well via school and teachers and supported well at home with revision by us. Which, is how I see it should be.

Exams/learning are part of life. Being taught how to learn is something everyone benefits from all through life.

This system has worked for all of our childen and enabled them to get to where they are now. We have a teacher, a serving Army soldier, an engineer and our youngest is sitting his GCSE's and expected to get A's in every subject. I really can not complain about any aspect of their educational life.

xx"

So expecting A's, now inagine they mived the goal posts and your son came home with c's or d's would you be happy?

These SATs are not the same as your children sat like the ones i sat.

Remember this is for primary school kids.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Having had 4 children through school and sats, I really can not understand why all the fuss.

All of ours did sats. Were supported well via school and teachers and supported well at home with revision by us. Which, is how I see it should be.

Exams/learning are part of life. Being taught how to learn is something everyone benefits from all through life.

This system has worked for all of our childen and enabled them to get to where they are now. We have a teacher, a serving Army soldier, an engineer and our youngest is sitting his GCSE's and expected to get A's in every subject. I really can not complain about any aspect of their educational life.

xx

Teachers and heads(their union is thinking about striking over them)don't think it benefits the children in any way. Socially, academically, or psychologically.

The government thinks otherwise.

WHo would you trust to have the best interest of your child atheart(and with greater knowledge on way or the other)?"

totally agree ...I'm against sats! all 4 of my children gained A levels and have good jobs ...sats are wanted by the government not by the education system

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Having had 4 children through school and sats, I really can not understand why all the fuss.

All of ours did sats. Were supported well via school and teachers and supported well at home with revision by us. Which, is how I see it should be.

Exams/learning are part of life. Being taught how to learn is something everyone benefits from all through life.

This system has worked for all of our childen and enabled them to get to where they are now. We have a teacher, a serving Army soldier, an engineer and our youngest is sitting his GCSE's and expected to get A's in every subject. I really can not complain about any aspect of their educational life.

xx

Teachers and heads(their union is thinking about striking over them)don't think it benefits the children in any way. Socially, academically, or psychologically.

The government thinks otherwise.

WHo would you trust to have the best interest of your child atheart(and with greater knowledge on way or the other)?

totally agree ...I'm against sats! all 4 of my children gained A levels and have good jobs ...sats are wanted by the government not by the education system "
and if parents don't pay up expel the kids for a year !

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Having had 4 children through school and sats, I really can not understand why all the fuss.

All of ours did sats. Were supported well via school and teachers and supported well at home with revision by us. Which, is how I see it should be.

Exams/learning are part of life. Being taught how to learn is something everyone benefits from all through life.

This system has worked for all of our childen and enabled them to get to where they are now. We have a teacher, a serving Army soldier, an engineer and our youngest is sitting his GCSE's and expected to get A's in every subject. I really can not complain about any aspect of their educational life.

xx

So expecting A's, now inagine they mived the goal posts and your son came home with c's or d's would you be happy?

These SATs are not the same as your children sat like the ones i sat.

Remember this is for primary school kids. "

One of them did come home with D's and E's. And was supported by us and school and college to re-sit. And not just once either. Took him 3 attempts to pass with C's. Which is a real testament to his determination.

All of them did sats at primary.

Learning is part of life. Too many kids are let down by not having the support. Either at home or at school.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Having had 4 children through school and sats, I really can not understand why all the fuss.

All of ours did sats. Were supported well via school and teachers and supported well at home with revision by us. Which, is how I see it should be.

Exams/learning are part of life. Being taught how to learn is something everyone benefits from all through life.

This system has worked for all of our childen and enabled them to get to where they are now. We have a teacher, a serving Army soldier, an engineer and our youngest is sitting his GCSE's and expected to get A's in every subject. I really can not complain about any aspect of their educational life.

xx

Teachers and heads(their union is thinking about striking over them)don't think it benefits the children in any way. Socially, academically, or psychologically.

The government thinks otherwise.

WHo would you trust to have the best interest of your child atheart(and with greater knowledge on way or the other)?

totally agree ...I'm against sats! all 4 of my children gained A levels and have good jobs ...sats are wanted by the government not by the education system and if parents don't pay up expel the kids for a year !"

harsh

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By *ethnmelvCouple
over a year ago

Cardiff


"Having had 4 children through school and sats, I really can not understand why all the fuss.

All of ours did sats. Were supported well via school and teachers and supported well at home with revision by us. Which, is how I see it should be.

Exams/learning are part of life. Being taught how to learn is something everyone benefits from all through life.

This system has worked for all of our childen and enabled them to get to where they are now. We have a teacher, a serving Army soldier, an engineer and our youngest is sitting his GCSE's and expected to get A's in every subject. I really can not complain about any aspect of their educational life.

xx

Teachers and heads(their union is thinking about striking over them)don't think it benefits the children in any way. Socially, academically, or psychologically.

The government thinks otherwise.

WHo would you trust to have the best interest of your child atheart(and with greater knowledge on way or the other)?

totally agree ...I'm against sats! all 4 of my children gained A levels and have good jobs ...sats are wanted by the government not by the education system "

SATs are only wanted by parents who want to send their children to 'good schools'. They only exist because we as a population want to have data. It is unreasonable to blame the government for something we all asked for!

It is therefore not reasonable to ask teachers to self assess, turkeys voting for christmas comes to mind, so unless we change our demands of continuous improvements in schools we will have to have SATs.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Having had 4 children through school and sats, I really can not understand why all the fuss.

All of ours did sats. Were supported well via school and teachers and supported well at home with revision by us. Which, is how I see it should be.

Exams/learning are part of life. Being taught how to learn is something everyone benefits from all through life.

This system has worked for all of our childen and enabled them to get to where they are now. We have a teacher, a serving Army soldier, an engineer and our youngest is sitting his GCSE's and expected to get A's in every subject. I really can not complain about any aspect of their educational life.

xx

Teachers and heads(their union is thinking about striking over them)don't think it benefits the children in any way. Socially, academically, or psychologically.

The government thinks otherwise.

WHo would you trust to have the best interest of your child atheart(and with greater knowledge on way or the other)?

totally agree ...I'm against sats! all 4 of my children gained A levels and have good jobs ...sats are wanted by the government not by the education system

SATs are only wanted by parents who want to send their children to 'good schools'. They only exist because we as a population want to have data. It is unreasonable to blame the government for something we all asked for!

It is therefore not reasonable to ask teachers to self assess, turkeys voting for christmas comes to mind, so unless we change our demands of continuous improvements in schools we will have to have SATs."
being harsh is sometimes the only way to be with some aspects in life we sat tests at school at varying ages so whats the problem nowadays with children sitting them ?? its just yet another thing for people to moan about

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By *ervent_fervourMan
over a year ago

Halifax


"Having had 4 children through school and sats, I really can not understand why all the fuss.

All of ours did sats. Were supported well via school and teachers and supported well at home with revision by us. Which, is how I see it should be.

Exams/learning are part of life. Being taught how to learn is something everyone benefits from all through life.

This system has worked for all of our childen and enabled them to get to where they are now. We have a teacher, a serving Army soldier, an engineer and our youngest is sitting his GCSE's and expected to get A's in every subject. I really can not complain about any aspect of their educational life.

xx

Teachers and heads(their union is thinking about striking over them)don't think it benefits the children in any way. Socially, academically, or psychologically.

The government thinks otherwise.

WHo would you trust to have the best interest of your child atheart(and with greater knowledge on way or the other)?

totally agree ...I'm against sats! all 4 of my children gained A levels and have good jobs ...sats are wanted by the government not by the education system

SATs are only wanted by parents who want to send their children to 'good schools'. They only exist because we as a population want to have data. It is unreasonable to blame the government for something we all asked for!

It is therefore not reasonable to ask teachers to self assess, turkeys voting for christmas comes to mind, so unless we change our demands of continuous improvements in schools we will have to have SATs."

That data is twisted to a political agenda. And gives too much power to parents(who aren't the experts, unfortunately).- They are(in comparison to the professionals)uninformed, and ill informed.

It's going this way with the NHS too.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Having had 4 children through school and sats, I really can not understand why all the fuss.

All of ours did sats. Were supported well via school and teachers and supported well at home with revision by us. Which, is how I see it should be.

Exams/learning are part of life. Being taught how to learn is something everyone benefits from all through life.

This system has worked for all of our childen and enabled them to get to where they are now. We have a teacher, a serving Army soldier, an engineer and our youngest is sitting his GCSE's and expected to get A's in every subject. I really can not complain about any aspect of their educational life.

xx

Teachers and heads(their union is thinking about striking over them)don't think it benefits the children in any way. Socially, academically, or psychologically.

The government thinks otherwise.

WHo would you trust to have the best interest of your child atheart(and with greater knowledge on way or the other)?

totally agree ...I'm against sats! all 4 of my children gained A levels and have good jobs ...sats are wanted by the government not by the education system

SATs are only wanted by parents who want to send their children to 'good schools'. They only exist because we as a population want to have data. It is unreasonable to blame the government for something we all asked for!

It is therefore not reasonable to ask teachers to self assess, turkeys voting for christmas comes to mind, so unless we change our demands of continuous improvements in schools we will have to have SATs."

it's perfectly reasonable for teachers to self assess the children they teach. .they can't massage the results or rose tint the data because ofsted would certainly pull them up on it !

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By *ust RachelTV/TS
over a year ago

Horsham


"Isn't the idea of it to catch kids who may be getting left behind and so give them extra help if needed? Not sure why anyone would oppose that but clearly some people feel strongly about it so would like to hear what concerns they have.

The current protests are because they're being made harder and the concern that education is becoming no more than a preparation for a series of tests.

I think that people should protest if they are dissatisfied with the education their children are getting. Possibly showing their children how to write a properly worded letter to Nicky Morgan would serve their purpose better, they would know that going through the proper channels first is a good idea, get practice in letter writing and see that their parents care about their education."

How do you assess how good the teaching is, if you don't test the pupils.

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By *ervent_fervourMan
over a year ago

Halifax


"Isn't the idea of it to catch kids who may be getting left behind and so give them extra help if needed? Not sure why anyone would oppose that but clearly some people feel strongly about it so would like to hear what concerns they have.

The current protests are because they're being made harder and the concern that education is becoming no more than a preparation for a series of tests.

I think that people should protest if they are dissatisfied with the education their children are getting. Possibly showing their children how to write a properly worded letter to Nicky Morgan would serve their purpose better, they would know that going through the proper channels first is a good idea, get practice in letter writing and see that their parents care about their education.

How do you assess how good the teaching is, if you don't test the pupils. "

School's do that in house. And the woefully flawed OFSTED. That's not the issue in this thread: it's SATs.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Having had 4 children through school and sats, I really can not understand why all the fuss.

All of ours did sats. Were supported well via school and teachers and supported well at home with revision by us. Which, is how I see it should be.

Exams/learning are part of life. Being taught how to learn is something everyone benefits from all through life.

This system has worked for all of our childen and enabled them to get to where they are now. We have a teacher, a serving Army soldier, an engineer and our youngest is sitting his GCSE's and expected to get A's in every subject. I really can not complain about any aspect of their educational life.

xx

Teachers and heads(their union is thinking about striking over them)don't think it benefits the children in any way. Socially, academically, or psychologically.

The government thinks otherwise.

WHo would you trust to have the best interest of your child atheart(and with greater knowledge on way or the other)?

totally agree ...I'm against sats! all 4 of my children gained A levels and have good jobs ...sats are wanted by the government not by the education system

SATs are only wanted by parents who want to send their children to 'good schools'. They only exist because we as a population want to have data. It is unreasonable to blame the government for something we all asked for!

It is therefore not reasonable to ask teachers to self assess, turkeys voting for christmas comes to mind, so unless we change our demands of continuous improvements in schools we will have to have SATs.being harsh is sometimes the only way to be with some aspects in life we sat tests at school at varying ages so whats the problem nowadays with children sitting them ?? its just yet another thing for people to moan about "

the tests me and you sat were far different to the now sats papers that year 3 and 6 are expected to do. ..

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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago

Over the rainbow, under the bridge

The test itself is flawed. Explain why a 10/11 year old needs to know what transitive and intransitive verbs are. I have a degree in literature and I've no idea. I've never needed to know. My spelling, punctuation and grammar are pretty good.

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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago

Over the rainbow, under the bridge

All teachers assess their students on a continuous basis. We need to trust the professionals more. After all, it can take 5 years to be fully qualified.

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By *izzabelle and well hungCouple
over a year ago

Edinburgh.

Good for them. Biggest threat to education is cuts, private finance and poor student discipline.

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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago

Over the rainbow, under the bridge


"Isn't the idea of it to catch kids who may be getting left behind and so give them extra help if needed? Not sure why anyone would oppose that but clearly some people feel strongly about it so would like to hear what concerns they have.

The current protests are because they're being made harder and the concern that education is becoming no more than a preparation for a series of tests.

I think that people should protest if they are dissatisfied with the education their children are getting. Possibly showing their children how to write a properly worded letter to Nicky Morgan would serve their purpose better, they would know that going through the proper channels first is a good idea, get practice in letter writing and see that their parents care about their education.

How do you assess how good the teaching is, if you don't test the pupils. "

Merely cramming dry facts into young minds is not good teaching. Also teachers are regularly assessed throughout the year.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"I detest the SATS with a passion.

A lot of teachers will agree. When I taught I felt it was a LOT of pressure to put year 9 pupils under. They were basically have GCSE level stress dumped on them, but at age 13-14?

And now they are doing it to six year olds?!

Six year olds should be learning through play. They should predominantly be doing a lot of running, jumping and climbing and exploring different ideas. They shouldn't be sat down all year learning what a conjunction is!

I have a lot of friends with kids this age. A lot of friends who have children coming home every night calling themselves stupid and thick and idiots because they don't understand the schoolwork.

Why on earth are children labelling themselves as failures at age 6-7?

It's actually sick. It's going to cause an awful lot of mental health issues as this generation gets older, and surprise surprise, child mental health is already stretched way beyond capacity.

Plus there's research out there that shows a curriculum based on testing is one of the worst ways to facilitate learning for kids.

And finally, Year 2 teachers have had to spend all year grilling their 6 and 7 year olds to get them to pass the test.

Schools have pressured these kids because the schools are then judged on how well they performed.

So really, schools that have good SATS results are actually schools who've put a lot of pressure on their kids.

Sick. Just sick. And I can't understand why they are doing it.

And aren't they testing 11 year olds to GCSE levels now? They jumped the difficulty of the tests with no warning or gradual increase. So that's an entire year group who's also going to think they've failed.

Think about it.

Do you enjoy doing something you think you are rubbish at? Or are you drawn to engage in things you think you are good at?

We tell kids they are rubbish at learning and they won't want to do it any more.

An education based on running jumping and climbing? Erm I send my kids to school to be educated, they can play at home.

The 6 year old SATs aren't with them sat in a hall with a giant clock and retired teachers pacing up and down while the kids sit down to a 3 hour paper. It's geared towards 6 year olds. Teachers aren't 'grilling 6 year olds'.

I understand opposition to it, and some people have good points, but you're just ranting about a subject you clearly haven't looked into further than a friend doesn't like it. Sorry, but that's what I read from your post."

If you knew anything about educating young children you would know that they learn through play !!!!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"From the minute a child starts nursery they are assessed on their ability!From the tender age of 3 they have aassessments and tests which carry on throughout their school life. ..there are no need for government based sats!"

Good grief !!!

That doesn't happen in my workplace.

We never test them.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Having had 4 children through school and sats, I really can not understand why all the fuss.

All of ours did sats. Were supported well via school and teachers and supported well at home with revision by us. Which, is how I see it should be.

Exams/learning are part of life. Being taught how to learn is something everyone benefits from all through life.

This system has worked for all of our childen and enabled them to get to where they are now. We have a teacher, a serving Army soldier, an engineer and our youngest is sitting his GCSE's and expected to get A's in every subject. I really can not complain about any aspect of their educational life.

xx

Teachers and heads(their union is thinking about striking over them)don't think it benefits the children in any way. Socially, academically, or psychologically.

The government thinks otherwise.

WHo would you trust to have the best interest of your child atheart(and with greater knowledge on way or the other)?

totally agree ...I'm against sats! all 4 of my children gained A levels and have good jobs ...sats are wanted by the government not by the education system

SATs are only wanted by parents who want to send their children to 'good schools'. They only exist because we as a population want to have data. It is unreasonable to blame the government for something we all asked for!

It is therefore not reasonable to ask teachers to self assess, turkeys voting for christmas comes to mind, so unless we change our demands of continuous improvements in schools we will have to have SATs.being harsh is sometimes the only way to be with some aspects in life we sat tests at school at varying ages so whats the problem nowadays with children sitting them ?? its just yet another thing for people to moan about

the tests me and you sat were far different to the now sats papers that year 3 and 6 are expected to do. .. "
yes it was called the 11+ plus exam and a lot of hyped up pressure to do well and be offered a grammar school placement

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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago

Over the rainbow, under the bridge

Finland. Best education in the world.

No testing.

No constant teacher scrutiny.

No Ofsted.

Children start school later than ours.

The current system in the UK isn't working. Why ADD more of the same and expect different results. Insanity.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Finland. Best education in the world.

No testing.

No constant teacher scrutiny.

No Ofsted.

Children start school later than ours.

The current system in the UK isn't working. Why ADD more of the same and expect different results. Insanity. "

fact

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I have a friend that kept her kids off today (she has three in primary) just so she didn't need to get up early, that to me is way wrong and not the reason the day was intended.

I however sent my ten year old in and it was never a question to let him stay off, he is leaving in a few months and the test he is taking now will determine the classes he will be in when he moves schools and that can only be a good thing.

Personally I feel that school is a place to learn and yes it can be tough and hard going but that is part of life and part of growing up, when they go to secondary school they have to realise that it is harder and not all fun and games. I know each parent feels differently and that is up to them, they are still kids and still have fun but they have to learn that school is their to learn

G x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

then let the professionals do there jobs what there trained and paid to do

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"then let the professionals do there jobs what there trained and paid to do "

Exactly ...without the government interfering and insisting they put children through SATS tests for their benefit, not the childs benefit .

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Although I do have a question about this, I've just read that 'having just one day off can be damaging to your child's education' why then do they have so many holidays, inset days and it's all ok for the teachers to strike meaning the kids have to stay off? Isn't that kind of double standards?

G X

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Are there still SATs in year 2 and year 6? Not an extra set put in?

SATs like anything are just a barometer of performance on a given day. I never shared my children's results with them, good or bad as I felt it made no difference to their education.

I know that more children now have difficulties with speech and that's partly down to less speaking within families and more sticking kids on tablets/iPods etc.

Wouldn't the parents achieve more by writing to MPs and the Education Authority. Keeping them off - makes them feel less included surely? Plus seems over dramatic to me. If you think the test has no relevance - let them sit it, but don't worry about the result. Children all learn at different rates and via different means anyway.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Are there still SATs in year 2 and year 6? Not an extra set put in?

SATs like anything are just a barometer of performance on a given day. I never shared my children's results with them, good or bad as I felt it made no difference to their education.

I know that more children now have difficulties with speech and that's partly down to less speaking within families and more sticking kids on tablets/iPods etc.

Wouldn't the parents achieve more by writing to MPs and the Education Authority. Keeping them off - makes them feel less included surely? Plus seems over dramatic to me. If you think the test has no relevance - let them sit it, but don't worry about the result. Children all learn at different rates and via different means anyway.

"

thought sats were year , 6 and 9.. which then indcates where they are for GCSE levels

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Year 2 also ..so aged 6

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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago

Over the rainbow, under the bridge


"Are there still SATs in year 2 and year 6? Not an extra set put in?

SATs like anything are just a barometer of performance on a given day. I never shared my children's results with them, good or bad as I felt it made no difference to their education.

I know that more children now have difficulties with speech and that's partly down to less speaking within families and more sticking kids on tablets/iPods etc.

Wouldn't the parents achieve more by writing to MPs and the Education Authority. Keeping them off - makes them feel less included surely? Plus seems over dramatic to me. If you think the test has no relevance - let them sit it, but don't worry about the result. Children all learn at different rates and via different means anyway.

thought sats were year , 6 and 9.. which then indcates where they are for GCSE levels "

There's been no year 9 SATs for years. These are new.

Decisions about which tier of GCSEs were made in year 11 prior to the exam. Not any more now. There's just one exam as I understand it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Year 2 also ..so aged 6 "

Year 2 isn't new though , but there's a new element to it. Children are surprisingly resilient. Well parents stress, they tend to just get on with it.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

i never minded the sats tests- my kids didnt mind - the schools never made a huge fuss over them and at the primary school the head said it was more a guide to how the school was doing so the kids never felt the pressure - dont remember any kid getting stressed over them at all -

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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago

Over the rainbow, under the bridge


"i never minded the sats tests- my kids didnt mind - the schools never made a huge fuss over them and at the primary school the head said it was more a guide to how the school was doing so the kids never felt the pressure - dont remember any kid getting stressed over them at all - "

These are not the same tests. Some of the grammar questions couldn't be answered by someone with a degree.

E.g., underline the transitive and intransitive verbs in this passage.

Ludicrous.

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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago

Over the rainbow, under the bridge

Ps all SATS were/are pointless. They are a political tool not an educational tool.

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By *nfamyMan
over a year ago

Goole


"Ps all SATS were/are pointless. They are a political tool not an educational tool. "

I blame Piers Morgan

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Ps all SATS were/are pointless. They are a political tool not an educational tool. "

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Ps all SATS were/are pointless. They are a political tool not an educational tool. "

just for the school league tables - kids were never bothered

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Whatever happened to good old-fashioned teaching now its targets, targets, targets enjoy to teach enjoy to learn put too much pressure on kids at an early age and they will rebel later x

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By *imiUKMan
over a year ago

Hereford


"Finland. Best education in the world.

No testing.

No constant teacher scrutiny.

No Ofsted.

Children start school later than ours.

The current system in the UK isn't working. Why ADD more of the same and expect different results. Insanity. "

This.

Altough I see the "It never did me no harm" brigade are out in force though. Although, of course, they didn't do SATS at age 6...

For balance; I think on the whole schools have got better since "my day" my daughter seemed to do a lot more learning through play, and genuineley seems to enjoy school (athough she cried about SATS).

I hated school. It was dull as shit. I just wanted to be outdoors. GCSEs were too easy and I found them boring, I only had the occasional teacher who managed to engage me.

School shouldn't be "like life at work", school should be a place where minds are free to develop and as much fun should be had as possible before the impending dullness of adulthood bites.

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By *ervent_fervourMan
over a year ago

Halifax

[Removed by poster at 03/05/16 19:22:06]

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By *ervent_fervourMan
over a year ago

Halifax

Mental health issues in pre secondary children is increasing massively(and it's hard not to conclude that the testing regime is any part of that).It's a frigging timebomb.

ANyone who seems to think there's no stress in the schools(staff or kids): it's probably because the staff have done their best to minimise stress levels for all concerned. It's not conducive to stress people out for exams.

They are relevant: they can have knock on effects from local authorites wanting to scrutinise and stick their unhelpful oar in, OFSTED, funding, and the poor old parents. Education, at least for children that young, shouldn't be contextualised via the all important league tables. It goes against the grain of education at this age, and, again, is divisive.Not to mention unreliable. Just klet teacher's judge the children on ALL their work over the year as they go along. How anyone can't see that's both fairer for the child, and a truer reflection of their ability at that point than any other system is beyond me.

League tables and the comparative data they allow gives you something which is 'measurable', and if you see the standard at your school has dropped, then you would conclude that teaching standards have dropped.

This is NOT necessarily the case, and a fallacy.

SATs are just a stick to beat the education sector around the head in order to facilitate whatever interference according to political reasons whoever is in power wants to justify.

Lots of people in politics think they are there for a good reason, I'm sure, and would deny this, but they'd ultimately be wrong . It's about time they were forced to keep their noses out. Gove regularly ignored all the impartial(of political relevance)of advice given to him by professional bodies during his reign(studying Dryden and Pope at Secondary? Really?Criticsing the History syllabus because it was too outward looking? Really?!Saying the Chinese education system was better than ours: REALLY?!!).

Parents are being hoodwinked;it's time to stop it.

Maybe the Heads threatening strike action will force a 'bit' of a rethink.

For our children's sakes, I hope so

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Schools are run as business rather than schools children are merely just a number on a target board x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Schools are run as business rather than schools children are merely just a number on a target board x"

Couldn't agree more. This is no way to teach children.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"Schools are run as business rather than schools children are merely just a number on a target board x

Couldn't agree more. This is no way to teach children. "

This is why they want to turn all schools into academies x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago


"I think there are possibly better ways of protesting but I also feel glad that there are parents interested enough in the education system as a whole and the curriculum and teaching methods in particular to take action. I think making your voice heard and showing our children that they don't have to lay down and take what authority gives them is a good thing."
agree

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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago

Over the rainbow, under the bridge


"Schools are run as business rather than schools children are merely just a number on a target board x

Couldn't agree more. This is no way to teach children.

This is why they want to turn all schools into academies x"

Yup. With academies the governing body is not accountable to local authority, teachers, parents.

Guess who they are accountable to?

Shareholders.

Academies make profits out of our children to make rich people richer.

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By *B9 QueenWoman
over a year ago

Over the rainbow, under the bridge


"Schools are run as business rather than schools children are merely just a number on a target board x"

Not state schools. Academies are.

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By *ervent_fervourMan
over a year ago

Halifax


"Schools are run as business rather than schools children are merely just a number on a target board x

Couldn't agree more. This is no way to teach children.

This is why they want to turn all schools into academies x"

Yep.

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By *ervent_fervourMan
over a year ago

Halifax

Morpork: what do you think?

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By *oachman 9CoolMan
over a year ago

derby


"Schools are run as business rather than schools children are merely just a number on a target board x

Couldn't agree more. This is no way to teach children.

This is why they want to turn all schools into academies x"
Again to think it has all come to this I may have been more luckier when I was at school as there were more options to be had after leaveing school.. but I do agree with an earlier post suggesting children will find their own way if left alone this was part of the system when I was at school even thou tutoring was always adhered to, you enjoyed the break times even if it was kicking a tennis ball around for a game of football on the field and off and if there was any trouble you,d be pulled up for it some of those teachers were teaching back in the 1930,s 1940,s 1950,s and 1960,s (old school) pardon the pun there was no extra pressure in those days like the kids have now those teachers knew the best way the system worked the one they had used all their teaching careers I feel sorry for the way the educational systems changed now.

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