Should i say anything?

[pretty_snowdrop]

Hi everyone. My Daughter is doing her key stage sats the week. She has always been very bright and sits at the top table. when she came home yesterday she said she had been split from her table and done a different reading test. After a bit of investigating i now know she sat the level 2 paper and everyone else did level 3.

I realise I shouldn't let it bother me, because she is only 6, but it does. Should i have a word with her teacher and find out why she sat a lower paper or should i accept it and let it lie?

[grasscarp]

I wouldnt make a special appointment to see the teacher, I would wait until parents evening or when you happen to see the teacher and then ask about it.

[xanthemitchell]

I would ask right away, If your child's teacher has given her a different reading test to the other students then she must have a valid reason for doing so.
If your daughters reading ability is not as good as the other children on her table for whatever reason then you would want to know right away so that you can help her get back to where she was,.

[wolf63]

How reliable is your information? It seems odd that only your daughter sat the level 2 paper.

I don't have children but I know that the story from a 6 year old would be vague - so I would think that they should keep you informed as to anything like this by sending you a note.

I would say that you should get in touch with the school but not to worry - but you will because you are her mother and that is what mothers do.

;-)

[pink-kittens]

I thought the sats for this age had been abolished?
For her yr she should be at key stage 2 not 3 - Ks 3 is yrs 7 onwards

[pretty_snowdrop]

I will have a word with her teacher when i pick her up and i suppose she will say she is not up to level 3 standard, which is fair enough but why wasn't i told earlier.
Hi pink, i don't think schools have to do these sats, but her school does. She is only 6 but is in year 2. Most of them achieve a level2 but the brightest will get a 3.

[Old_Geezer]

Never hurts to show interest.

I'm amazed it is thought 6 year olds should be sitting papers anyway. That said, in my day the primary school teacher didn't really have a handle on us really. I recall being in one reading group for ages, not realising I, a small insignificant pupil, could complain about the books given us to read. Until the day I got so fed up I called out every word one of the others in my group was stumbling over during the 'read out loud to teacher' bit. Before the end of the day I was offered the book the top group was reading, but to be honest, it didn't seem that much more challenging. Childhood memories eh? I suspect it doesn't much matter, they are trying to drag the whole class along at the same pace. But ask anyway; keep them on their toes.

[pink-kittens]

NMo you confuse me - is she saying she is doing KS2 and the rest are doing KS3? Because that is NOT what they are doing. KS3 is secondary school age

But in your reply you just say level 2 with no KS?

Not sure why your daughter's school would still put their year 2's under this kind of pressure :(

[pretty_snowdrop]

Sorry pink-kittens, she is in key stage 1 ( year 2). In key stage 1 they work on levels 1,2 and 3 then have these tests to see how well they have done.
I agree kids shouldn't be tested at this age. I know a lot of schools do the assessment in a way they children don't realise they are being tested, but my daughters school seems a bit strict about it all.

[sherrardk]

If they have suddenly 'dropped' your daughter down a level I would ask why but I would not be overly concerned. Most pupils at the end of Key Stage 2 would be expected to achieve 2a, 2b or 2c with level 3 being considered as 'beyond expectations' - http://www.woodlands-....sch.uk/SATS.html#do. Try not to worry (even though you will).

[pretty_snowdrop]

Thanks sherrardk, I had a word with her teacher who told me not to worry. It was only on the reading paper she had been dropped to a level 2 and she wasn't the only one. She got a 2A which I am pleased about.

[sherrardk]

Glad you got it sorted out. My eldest son did his Key Stage 2 SATs last week and they put so much pressure on them. There aren't many boys in his class (about 7) and of those three get extra help and one can be 'unpredictable' so they seemed to be really leaning on my boy to do well (so that they don't look so bad in the league tables for the county). My boy in Key Stage 1 is doing his SATs in a more laid back way so at least the pressure is off him.

[welshlibranr]

Sher, if it's bothering you, then why not ask?.......you need answers!..........

[factor-fiction]

To put it in perspective have quite a few 14 year olds in my classes who are only just in level 3.
It seems surprising that she would be the only one doing the lower test given teh circumstances. It may be that the facts aren't right. If parents' evening is coming up soon I'd wait until then; otherwise just ring up and ask for a chat over the phone

[sherrardk]

Hi Welsh, it's pretty_snowdrop's question (if I was bothered I would be in like Flynn!).

[welshlibranr]

Hi sher luv, I know!...........but maybe just ask why!................better to know!........

[pink-kittens]

well done to your little girl!
2A is a really excellent mark to get =)

[pink-kittens]

PS: Remember these tests are based on averages and at 6 years old your DD is one of the younger ones to take it. Some of the children in her class will be nearer to 8 then 6 so she has done VERY well