Booster homework:SATS

Egypt191

Hi,

My son is going through the horrific experience of SATS at the moment. The problem is that the school are putting so much pressure on him he's becoming ill and I don't know what to do for the best.

He's in the top set for maths which means that the school are pushing for him to achieve a level 6, they're doing this by having several booster classes a week and he has booster homework that takes him an hour to complete each night.

He suffers with migraines and is on preventatives for these, in the past 3 days I've been called to the school because he's unable to communicate to the school that he had a migraine (to add to the mix, he's also got Asperger syndrome) consequently he's had to come home.

Today I was unable to even get him to school as he was so worried he was going to get told off for not completing his boosters yesterday, even though he came home with a migraine.
So I spoke to the head today about my concerns saying I think the stress is making him ill and she disregarded it, instead focused on telling my son how important the SATS were to his future, how much hard work he needs to put in and if he doesn't put the work in he'll be dropped from the highest class ( my son is a perfectionist so she played to that).

I know the SATS are not for my child's benefit, this is my middle child, I also know that the school want my son to achieve a level 6 ( it's not a large school, and he's the highest achiever in maths). So what if I took the pressure off of him and said don't worry about the booster homework and he doesn't do it? The reason I'm asking for advice is the school have already said to my son if he doesn't do his booster homework he'll have to stay in at playtime/lunchtime, which again is making him worry.

Thanks:)

balletshoes

as this is causing your son so much completely unnecessary stress, worry, and physical pain, I'd write a letter to the Head, copied into the school governors/LEA, and hand it personally to the Head tomorrow. Just state what you've already said here, and add that your son will not be taking part in the booster homework, and he is not to be punished in school for this.

In my opinion, your school should be reported to OFSTED for this kind of nonsense :mad:, but you may want to cover youself by putting your case in writing to the Head and the board of governors first.

Its absolutely not on that primary school SATS should be the cause of physical pain for a child.

msb5262

Hi OP,

I'm so sorry that your son is going through this. Can I suggest you take him to the GP and explain the situation? I am pretty certain that the GP will say that your son needs a break - and when you write formally to the headteacher saying this, tell them that it is on medical advice that you're withdrawing your child from the booster homework. State clearly that your son should not be punished or given sanctions for this. You might want to send a copy to the chair of governors too...I think this attitude from the school is a disgrace.

Hope that helps

MsB

msb5262

balletshoes - we cross posted! But I like your thinking...

mrcow

Egypt191 wrote: »

I know the SATS are not for my child's benefit, this is my middle child, I also know that the school want my son to achieve a level 6 ( it's not a large school, and he's the highest achiever in maths). So what if I took the pressure off of him and said don't worry about the booster homework and he doesn't do it?

So what if you did?

I would. My son is going for level 6 in maths, literacy and reading this month and has had no extra lessons/homework at all. If he gets it, fine. If he doesn't I couldn't care less. Really I couldn't. It's just a number.

Put it in writing.

Tell them that he is not going to do this homework. It's ridiculous for an 11 year old kid.

And they are not to put him in any sort of detention because of it. Tell them that if he does, you will be putting in a formal complaint about it.

Seanymph

Does the school have a senco? How about a chat with them instead of the head?

bestpud

Wow! Just wow!

And I thought my daughter's school was bad enough! :eek:

Follow the advice being given - you need to protect your son.

I think you must be very, very patient or seriously dislike telling people straight as I'd have wiped the floor with the HT! :mad:

bestpud

Seanymph wrote: »

Does the school have a senco? How about a chat with them instead of the head?

It's gone past the stage of a chat in my opinion! The child is suffering for goodness sake!

MrsDrink

Threaten to take your child out of the school if they continue. They will soon back down in fear of their star pupil's scores being credited to another school.

bella_boo123

My child is in year 6 and is no way getting the amount of pressure your son is getting it is disgusting. Tell the school unless they back off you are taking him away for the week, your son, your rules.

As he is a bright child they will not want him not being there.

Lagoon

I agree that what the school is doing is disgraceful. Let them put him down to a lower class if they want to - what difference will that really make, except to ease the pressure on your son?

My one concern is that if he's being stressed out so much by the SATS, how will he be when the exams DO matter? I think as well as potentially telling him 'relax, stop doing the homework, I'll deal with the school' you need to find a way to address this issue long-term. He can't just not bother with homework/coursework throughout secondary school and his GCSEs, so whilst the school are going the completely wrong way about this I'd imagine that they're (badly) trying to prepare him for his future. Things are only going to get much, much worse for your son if he doesn't learn to take control of his stress levels now. They might have simply been very bad at wording that.