My eldest is just about to take his year 6 SAT's. Over the past couple of weeks we have had tears, tantrums and complete meltdowns. He is terrified he won't be able to achieve the level he has been targeted to achieve. Ever since year 2 he has worried, every May he has worried about what level he is and could he do better. My son works hard, he does his homework, listens to the teacher and wants to learn.
As a teacher I know how much pressure there is to get children to the 'right' level but as a parent I just want my son to do his best, for himself, for his school and for his teachers who have worked hard throughout his time at school. Credit must go to every teacher not just the year 6 teachers. However, I think that there is something seriously wrong with an education system that causes this much stress in children from such a young age. What is worse still is the fact that while teachers have their pupils best interests at heart they also fear the wrath of ofsted if the pupils don't make the expected levels.
Worse still I have three more children to go through primary school alongside the eldest getting through secondary school.
