Here’s a tricky communications issue that I’d appreciate comments on.
How do you explain to a 10 or 11-year old facing SATS next week that they must sit the tests even though they’ve read and heard on the radio that “the majority of teachers […] didn’t want the SATS to go ahead.”
According to the CBBC web site “around 600,000 [10- and] 11-year-olds in England are due to take their Maths and English SATS [...]”
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) says that half of primaries in England will take part in the boycott organised by the NUT and and National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT).
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I am not sure how many people would agree with my advice, but it is what my mum told me to do, (she is an executive head teacher by the way) – don’t revise.
She has never agreed with them, like most head teachers, and always told me to treat them as practice, but don’t waste my time revising… as they are there to make the schools look good and make teaching focused in the wrong direction.
I’m sure she would also like me to add that the vote could not happen any earlier, because of the system in place, so they had to keep preparing the kids for the SATs even though they may not happen.
So my advice would be to say don’t revise too much, but try your best in the exam anyway. If the kid gets a bad grade they know they didn’t revise, so that is why. If they get a good grade they will be very proud, due to the little revision. Win win.
I’m baffled by the whole Sats standoff, so I feel sorry for the kids who are stuck in the middle.
I think it’s down right irresponsible of headteachers really. The tests probably need reforming, but a boycott gives kids the wrong message.
Maybe you could tell your young ‘un to get shit hot at exams (expletive optional), because their entire future success pretty much rests on handling them well, and Sats are good practice
Re: Dan
I would argue that the SATs are not good for the children, as they teach techniques to pass exams… not knowledge. So it is more responsible of head teachers to put a stop to them, as they get in the way of real education.
Source: A very high up head teacher who knows a thing or two about education.
@David – I would argue that learning techniques to pass exams is just as important as the knowledge itself. So it’s irresponsible of head teachers to ignore the grim reality of exams in favour of their blue sky views on what ‘real education’ may constitute.
Source: A veteran student who knows a thing or two about exams.