Dear Year 10 Parents
As you will be aware from the media there have been considerable problems associated with the marking of last year’s key stage 3 SATs.
At present we are reviewing the marks awarded to our pupils and preparing a case for remarks, especially in English. We feel that the levels as they stand do not accurately reflect the abilities of the pupils.
We have not as yet published the levels as we do not wish to disappoint or demotivate pupils as they start their GCSE courses. Once we are satisfied that we have achieved a reasonable match between the SATs results and our professional opinion of our pupils’ attainment we shall provide pupils and parents with the results.In the meantime I should like to emphasise that while SATs results have in the past provided useful information to help teachers with their planning, they have never been a part of a certification process in the same way as GCSE. Post-16 providers, universities and employers do not ask for SATs results.
It is far more important that year 10 pupils settle well into their GCSE courses and aim as high as possible in these than that they waste emotional energy in being concerned over SATs results. Our own teachers have a better understanding of the needs and potential of our pupils than can ever be provided by a one-off test.