Wife & Daughter taking holiday before SATS

GwylimT

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

Don't be sorry. Neither school my two went to use them, and nor does the school I work at. Judging by some of the investigations going on with a number of primaries in the area, none of the local secondaries are going to treat them with anything but suspicion.

I'm yet to teach at a school where SATs are used in any shape or form, my son has also not attended a secondary schools where SATs had a value.

peachyprice

Alchemilla wrote: »

I am sorry but as a parent of a now y7 student and a schoolteacher, SATs results can be and are used to inform setting. Is your primary definitely doing them?

The idea that they are only relevant to league tables is incorrect.

eta thanks to changes to school budgets, many schools can no longer AFFORD CATs tests.

Perhaps in your LEA in particular. Certainly not in the majority.

alwaysskint96

GwylimT wrote: »

SATS have absolutely no relevence so missing the actual tests isn't a problem at all, missing school is however as it also teaches your daughter that holidays come before education. How is your wife planning to catch your daughter up on all of her missed work?

.

What missed work???- my 3rd child is now in year 6 and they seemed to have done sweet FA except SATS revision since January Was the same when my eldest 2 went through it as well

And no none of the secondary schools here use them for setting levels either

ALI1973

OP, what does your daughter think?, I would think she was able to express an opinion, is your wife aware that almost certainly the school will not authorise this leave?and therefore, you may will BOTH be fined for the absence?

The Secondary my children attend used the SATS initially to stream in certain subjects whilst they conducted their own testing, and they were reset in the following January. Although the teachers did stress at Parents evening that they were not expecting the SATS to be an accurate reflection of all the children's abilities.

Also the secondary I used to work in a couple of years ago, also did similar, bur choosing to re-stream after October 1/2 term.

I do agree that the SATs are only a guide and that it would appear in most primaries that Y6 is spent learning how to pass them.

balletshoes

cte1111 wrote: »

All you can do really is to try to talk (calmly) to your wife about why you think it would be better for your daughter to stay in school. What does your daughter think? Really avoid using her as a pawn in an argument, but her wishes also should come into account.

My daughter is a similar age to yours. Secondary schools do use the Sats grades to put the children in ability sets, so they are relevant to this at least.
The schools make a lot of fuss about Sats, your daughter might feel a bit left out if she is missing classes during this period.

I'd try and make this issue seperate from any decision about the future of your marriage.

some do - and some don't. My daughter's secondary school used their own ability tests, undertaken on the taster days in July and then again when they started year 7 in September.

SATs are for the school, in my opinion there is way too much "hothousing" done for them in year 6 - the kids at my daughter's primary school, and my niece's, didn't learn anything new at all after December in year 6, as from January until May they were revising for SATs.

I'm not bashing teachers here by the way, I know that for the schools its important to do well in SATs.

fizz

SATS are a complete waste of time and space, but that isn't really the point of this post as far as I can see.
OP. if you feel that strongly about your child's education and it's not just about getting one over on your wife, then speak to the School and let them know how you feel. You are both responsible for your child's education so sort it.

fizz

supersaver2

I teach in a secondary and the results are used for setting purposes until we've carried out our own assessments so they do carry importance in some schools. Plus as a parent it is useful to see what level your child is at.

You have equal responsibility for your child and you will both be fined if she misses school. Tell your wife you aren't in agreement and give your (in my opinion) valid reasons.

meritaten

I am usually the first to say - a family holiday is important and travel abroad is wonderful for the kids. BUT, not in the two weeks before SATS! this is an important year and the two weeks before SATS are where they get 'all their ducks in a row'. I honestly think its a bad idea. but what you can do about preventing it I have no idea - if your wife is determined to go and take DD with her.


edited to say - in my LEA the Sats are used by the Comprehensive - they don't have their own 'assessment tests' in the first terms.

cte1111

Jojo_the_Tightfisted wrote: »

It's very rare that schools use SATS for setting. It's far more likely that the new year 7s will spend the end of September completing assessments that determine any setting.
.

My daughter is in year 7. Her school used the Sats results for setting, they were in sets from day 1 for practically all subjects.

SmlSave

I went on holiday when I should have been doing my SATS so I'm afraid I don't see a problem.

If she's bright and the teachers can give homework, why not?