Comments from teachers, parents and governors:

I’m not sure if you want parents’ views on SATs, but incase you do here goes.

I am a parent of a 6 year old about to take the tests. I object strongly to them on the grounds that I can’t see the point of them, they certainly don’t seem to be helping the child. Our child is a very able child and has spent quite a lot of time going over the work that needs to be covered by the tests, despite finding all the work too easy, he’s become bored and frustrated at this apparent waste of time.

I would value the teacher’s assessment over any test results. When our eldest child took their SATs a lot of time before hand was spent revising, she coasted through the whole of YR2 getting more and more bored. Then she went into YR3 at the next school up in the pyramid and spent almost a whole school year being assessed by her new teacher. I had thought up to then that the SATs were going to be used by the next teachers to help identify any strength or weakness in order to help the child..but this wasn’t the case. We now feel that almost 2 school years have been lost and some of that down to SATs.

Children at age 6 or 7 don’t need the pressure of these tests, it’s ridiculous to set them. I’ve heard that parents put pressure on their children to perform, but it’s hard not to when all you hear afterwards is the results that all the children got. You want your child to do well, so it’s hard not to fall into the situation of buying past papers or revision books.

Give me a teachers assessment anyday and leave 6 and 7 year olds to be children without the fear of failure!


ML

Worcestershire.