School is out for the summer and the relief of the end of term is felt by both parents and children (and I am sure a few teachers too!) This year has been especially emotional as the Year 6 children are not only leaving the comfort of their junior schools but have had to deal with the new SATS grading. The children and teachers put in a lot of effort when it comes to their SATs, and not achieving the scores they’d hoped for can be heart-breaking. Fortunately, there are a number of steps parents can take that ensure SATs result don’t spell the end of your child’s goals.

Ensure SATs Are Kept in Perspective

It’s easy for children to base their entire future on the SATs results, but it’s up to us as parents to ensure our children are able to have a realistic viewpoint on their results. Reassure your child that there is no such thing as a pass or fail, and the pressure that children sometimes feel can also make an impact. Helping your child realise what they’ve accomplished in preparation for their SATs can do wonders for their confidence moving forward.

Don’t Compare Children’s SATs Results with That of Others

It’s not only children who can be disappointed with SAT results, as parents can also worry that SAT results that fall below expectations will have a huge impact on their child’s life. Children have many different strengths, just like adults, so it’s important to focus on where improvement is needed, rather than try an assess why one child achieved something another didn’t.

Similarly, those who attained a high SATs result should understand that on-one is inferior to them, and that everyone learns in a different way. Many children who were unsure of the impacts SATs results would have in high school have gone to become a success, simply by working on their weaker areas.

Focus on The Benefits

Like many adults, a lot of children have become a success simply be learning from their mistakes. As such, not reaching the desired SAT level shouldn’t be all doom-and-gloom. Of course, it’s natural to feel disappointed, but the reality is that a lot can be done to ensure your child’s future is a bright one. Working harder moving forward also ensures that school life is rarely passive, meaning that not only are they gaining vital knowledge, but actually enjoying doing so.

Ensure Your Children Are Prepared for Senior School

While SAT results can mean that a school will streamline a pupil, many don’t base a child’s ability on this alone. Some schools may place children based on cognitive ability tests and SAT results, whereas others may have a different internal system altogether. If you do have any questions, it can be useful to contact the school in question and ask them what measures they have in place.

It’s also important for children to understand that there’s no reason as to why they can’t progress, even if they didn’t get the results they wanted. How a child is placed within a school will allow them to work on areas that need improvement. This in turn will instil confidence, meaning that a more solid foundation is in place when it comes to a child succeeding.

Many children may fear falling behind as a result of their SATs, but all that will occur is that extra support will be put in place to help your child prosper moving forward. Sure, it may take longer to reach the destination, but everyone ends up at the same place. 

And finally ...... let them enjoy the summer, free of timetables (and times tables).

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