A Letter To My Year Six Teacher Friends This SATs Weekend...

I know the feeling.

I don’t know how you’re feeling, but I do know the feeling.

The next few days feel like everything is riding on them. In that way, they’re only really second to Ofsted - and the less said about those weeks the better!

I know that you’re likely second guessing yourself right now: “Did I do enough? What if I’d just…”

Don’t. Just don’t.

You’ve put in so much to support the children in your class, and across your year group! Despite likely not agreeing with these exams yourself, you’ve done what you could to support the young people in your care - often sacrificing something to do so. All you want is to see them achieve, not just academically, but to build belief in themselves. You want them to see what they’re capable of and to remove the roof that they, or others, might have put on themselves.

I know the sleepless nights, the frayed tempers and the ways SATs seem to sneak into your psyche at every given opportunity. I know they’ve dominated work conversations, your teaching, your communications with parents. I can imagine that you just can’t wait for them to be over, yet you wish you had just a few more weeks to revisit some things. But you have done what you could, with what you had, where you were - that’s enough.

You are enough.

I know you’re probably frustrated that they have to do these exams at all.

You see the curriculum that has been cut (hopefully not but, as a former UKS2 teacher, I know the realities in some schools), and you know it’s not in their best interest. You might feel despondent at the system and the fact another year of children will go through what you know is an extremely tough week; by the end of which some children will thrive and others will feel utterly destroyed.

(Pssst. Did I use that semi colon right? Probably not, it’s been a while…)

And I know there’s going to be plenty of trepidation, nerves and anxiety as the week gets underway.

I’m pretty sure I was shaking as I served my first slice of Warburton’s at SATs breakfast! It didn’t help that I’d stood on a wasp the day before and spent the first two days of the tests hobbling around in one shoe! Hey, there’s a win - at least you haven’t stepped on a wasp?

In all seriousness though, I appreciate the anxiety that can build ahead of this week and so what I really want to share with you are some thoughts and ideas that I think could be really helpful. I think there’s a few crucial truths that are important to remind yourself of this weekend…

These really are KS2 exams. I know you’ve heard this a lot lately, but they really are. I know it’s your year of teaching in which they’re taking them and I know you’re the one supporting and delivering the tests, but we know that the vast majority of those papers are not actually Year Six content. You are one person who’s taught these children for less than nine months… You’re awesome, but even you can’t teach an entire Key Stage in that time! You’ve done what you could. You have done enough.

It’s time for calm, not cramming. I am almost certain you would have told the children to go home this weekend, relax, see their friends, do the things that make them happy. But are you taking your own advice? It’s too easy to, literally and metaphorically, comb through every practice paper looking for drop in during the afternoons this week or give extra reminders about where you can. But, ultimately, what’s best for you is also best for the children: time outside, time with loved ones. Sunshine, laughter, a change of scene. Great food, music, reading. Whatever puts a smile on your face and reminds you what it’s all really for.

Finally, I want to give you one last nudge: look for the light. That’s both the light at the end of the tunnel (what’s coming up? What’re you excited about? How will you share how proud you are with the children?) and also the light that’s already been. What have you achieved this year, professionally and personally? What obstacles have you overcome that felt insurmountable? - There’s a GD bit of vocabulary if I’ve ever seen one! What progress have you seen in the children beyond paper and pencil?

I’d highly recommend spending some time this weekend sitting with those questions and maybe jotting down a few of your ideas; psychology and neuroscience both support that this is a very powerful way to change how we’re feeling in times like these!

At the very least, I hope you can look back over this year and spot those moments of support you’ve given and see the profound, powerful impact you have had. These tests are dry, drab, one-dimensional snapshots that cannot even begin to capture what you have done for those children this year. Personally, I’d go as far to say that they’re actually the least important thing the children will do all year - despite what results, league tables and the finite thinking of some might suggest.

The most important thing now is that the children feel seen, heard and cared for this week.

And that starts by giving the same to yourself too.

So, from one Year Six teacher to another, I’m not going to say good luck - because you don’t need it.

But look after yourself this weekend and please, please know that you have done enough.

- Charlie