Teachers at a primary school have penned a heart-warming letter to Year Six pupils – to reassure them ahead of their SATs exams.
The advice was sent to parents and pupils earlier in the week to ease their pre-exam worries.
It says the tests do not assess what makes each pupil “exceptional and unique” – adding that exam boards “do not know each of you in the way that we do”.
A recent survey by support service The Key found primary school children sitting national tests are showing increased signs of stress and anxiety around exam time.
Pupil reported suffering sleeplessness and panic attacks – with one child pulling their eyelashes out due to stress.
The survey of 1,200 teachers had increased in more than three-quarters (78%) of primary schools over the past two years.
The letter, by staff at Lakeside Primary School in Cheltenham, Glos., says:
”Next week you will sit your ATs tests for maths, reading, spelling, grammar and punctuation. We know how hard you have worked, but there is something very important you must know….
”The SATs tests do not assess all of what makes each of you exceptional and unique. The people who create these tests and score them do not know each of you the way that we do and certainly not in the way your families do.
”They do not know that some of you speak two languages or that you love to draw and paint. They have not seen your natural talent for acting or playing the ukuele. They do not know that you have entered story writing competitions or street dance competitions.
”They do not know that you have represented our school at Young Voices. They do not know that your friends can count on you to be there for them, that your laughter can brighten the darkest day or that your face turns red when you feel shy.
”They do not know that you participate in the school football team, the school netball team or the school cross country team.
”They do not know that you are obsessed with Harry Potter or Michael Rosen or ‘flossing’. They do not know that you wonder about your future, or sometimes help your brother or sister.
”They do not know that you are kind, trustworthy and thoughtful and that every day you try to be your very best.
”The outcomes you will get from these tests will tell you something, but they will not tell you everything. There are many ways of being smart. You are smart! So while you are preparing for the tests and in the midst of it all, remember that there is no way to ‘test’ all of the amazing and awesome things that make you, YOU!
”This weekend please rest, sleep and believe, because you CAN!
Good luck
Miss Allen, Mrs Veli, Mrs Rice, Mrs Colloby, Mrs Dickson and Mrs Betteridge”
