Having been a Y6 teacher for many many years, I always had a date in my mind all year and it was the middle of May … SATS week! 

It can be very difficult to manage the balance of knowing these tests (like it or not) measure your performance as a school, and personal competence, especially if the pressure is all on you alone, against my intrinsic belief that the wellbeing of the children is far more important than some Government enforced tests given to children who are arguably too young to deal with this stress. 

I have been in the situation where, I’ll be honest, we have delighted in the email which arrives in July, announcing better than anticipated results, feeling like we can give ourselves a well deserved pat on the back. However, then seeing it from the other perspective of parent and also teacher in a very small school where 70% means 1 child…  I know that the pressure that SATs can put on teachers, parents and most important of all, children aged 10 and 11, is weighing too heavy for many. 

TOP TIPS TO SHARE WITH PARENTS:

• Make sure your child gets a good night’s sleep.
• Have a good breakfast… hungry tummies do not stimulate effective brainwork.
• Continue with your extra curricular activities, especially things that are active and promote self worth.
• Reassure your child that their value is not measured by this aspect of school, whilst not conveying a ‘they don’t matter’ mentality. It is a hard truth that children will have to get used to sitting tests. 
• Short, focused sessions of revision are far more effective than sitting for hours on past papers or becoming demotivated. Rewards of enjoyable activities after short revision sessions is a good idea. 
• Lots of positive affirmations to keep them going! 

Blog written by Jo Gotheridge (8/5/26)