SATs chaos and ultimate worth

This year's SATs results have finally been published, but a troubled marking process and delayed results have left many schools and families frustrated. Ben Jones reflects on the experience from a parent's perspective

As a dad of two, one already navigating the world of secondary school and another who has just completed her SATS, I have found myself reflecting deeply on what these past weeks mean for families across the country.

On one hand, I believe in encouraging our children to learn well, stretch themselves and discover the confidence that comes from taking on new challenges. Education matters. Preparation matters. Doing our best matters.

On the other hand, adventure matters in childhood too.

Only a few months ago, my wife, daughter, son and I were away in Cornwall during what should have been two weeks of holiday. Cornwall offered everything you could want from family time together: paddleboarding, adventurous places to explore, coffee shops tucked away on winding streets and, of course, the opportunity to enjoy a good cake or two.

I never want them to believe that a mark on a page tells them everything about who they are

Yet, in the middle of all of that, SATs revision quietly followed us.

Practice papers were tucked into bags. Questions circled around when we would fit in another bit of revision. Should we do it in the morning? Before heading out for the day? After dinner?

I carried a tension that I suspect many parents understand.

I wanted my daughter to rest, laugh, play and enjoy being a child during May holidays. At the same time, I wanted to support her, encourage her and help her prepare for her tests.

As parents, we often find ourselves holding these seemingly opposing truths together.

if the results are not what they hoped for, sit with them in that disappointment without allowing it to become their identity

Work hard, but do not lose your joy.

Prepare well, but remember to rest.

Take opportunities seriously, but do not let them define who you are.

For our family, we chose to do a little each day. We worked through the practice papers together, celebrated what went well and navigated the moments that felt more difficult.

Preparing for SATS with a child who has additional needs added another layer to the journey. As a dyslexic father, I understand something of what education and testing can do to a child’s confidence.

As a dad, I wonder whether SATs results can sometimes tempt us to focus only on what appears to be missing

I remember feeling that school didn’t always understand how I learned. I often struggled to demonstrate what I knew in the ways that were expected of me. It took years to realise that my difficulties within formal education did not diminish the gifts, creativity and strengths God had also placed within me.

That experience has shaped how I parent.

I want my children to embrace learning. I want them to revise, persevere and discover the confidence that comes from doing difficult things. But I never want them to believe that a mark on a page tells them everything about who they are.

As Year 6 children receive their SATS results, some families will celebrate. Others may feel disappointed. Some children will be relieved. Others may wonder whether they have somehow let themselves or those around them down.

As Christian parents, I think we have an opportunity to help shape a different narrative.

Reproduced with permission. Originally published at https://www.premiernexgen.com/education/tell-your-year-6-children-that-they-are-so-much-more-than-their-sats-results/21771.article