Proud Gran

Annsixty.Academic excellence is one of many things to celebrate. So is sporting ability, musical ability, being personable and kind to others and a whole host of other gifts/ abilities I'm sure your GC has gifts of their own and these should be celebrated Too much emphasis on academic achievement causes many of our youngsters to have low self esteem problems. I am sure you are sensitive enough to help your GC value their particular abilities.

I was impressed anyway. I still have a detention slip brought home by eldest son, in my 'box of stuff' that says under 'Reason for detention' 'Throwing a dead bird at another student'!

Maybe some people can learn from the kids what can be achieved with the right attitude
So far, in three consecutive years, three of my GC have taken SATs with perfectly satisfactory results - one of them with excellent results - and all three of them have completely different approaches to these tests. So what is this 'right attitude'? There are some children - and I admit I was one - who find exams relatively easy and don't get at all fazed by them. Others, who might be equally intelligent, feel the weight of parental expectations, of over-anxious teachers or of a competitive peer group. At 10 or 11 this is asking a lot. We thought it was all over when most LEAs got rid of the 11+ but now it's back in the form of nationally administered SATs.

I'm so glad we don't do SATS in Scotland!

I was surprised by the use of the word 'results' - do the children get a mark now rather than just a level as they did in my day?

Anne worry not about your DGD - she is greatly loved by you and she will know that. My DGD was not that great during her teens despite working hard - later we discovered she had not been totally well. She realised herself she would not find going to Uni easy so concentrated on getting a job she enjoys every day. She is now a young adult and is doing extremely well in her job despite not going to Uni - she is a loving kind young woman and is happy and enjoys life. Your DGD will do fine, not everyone can be a genius. As long as she is happy - that is the main thing. .

Jinglebellsfrocks,Love it. I am usually accused by my daughter of that. As you say (bad Gran alert).

I think my GS must have done these tests. I haven't a clue how he got on. His mum probably told me but tbh, it goes in one ear and out the other. (Bad granny alert!)

This is so unfair to Rachifagran. Why not just refrain from commenting?

Weird!

Lillie, Read my post, never used the word pupils, one thing trying to be clever but get your facts right. Blue 25, don't read it then, there are plenty of other posts you can read. Nothing tackless about it, I have not made comparisons, just expressed my joy. Seems some people are happy for my Grandson and have expressed it here and by PM.

Thankyou Belladonna, I will not be put off posting. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, I respect that, and I will always give my honest opinion on a subject I choose to post on, even if it means people disagree with me. It's what makes Gransnet interesting.

What a tactless post OP. Why would others on an anonymous forum be interested?

I think, maybe, it was the image of "all around other pupils were losing their heads" which caught my attention, so yes, they were less fortunate and that constitutes a graphic comparison. Hope they found their heads again soon after.

The OP, if my reading of her post is accurate, was reporting being proud of her grandson's attitude, not necessarily the outcome or indicating approval of SATs. Surely that's appropriate for a grandparent? Infuess others will disagree, but that's my interpretation of the post and I agree, a positive attitude.

Feeling a bit sorry for rafichagran, who I feel just wanted to share her pride in her grandson's achievements. Whatever anyone's feelings about SATs, the OP only came on here to say how pleased and proud she was. I don't call that boasting, nor indeed making comparisons with other "less fortunate pupils". Well done to the grandson, and hopefully rafichagran is not put off further posting.

I am proud, and I have never rubbed anyone's nose in it. Why do people assume I would? I repeat I only know his marks, and not the marks of anyone else, that would be none of my business.

I have a very un-academic GC and my heart breaks every time my friends ring with their boasting of their GC's achievements .
This sadly is my problem and not theirs, we are now at A- levels and university age
and I get upset by the superiority. My GC is struggling with staying on to 18
. Be proud of the things your GC do but don't rub others noses in it it is unkind.

I think I over-used the word anxiety in that post

Failed!!

I do think a lot of parents can transfer their anxiety to their children; some pupils in DGD's school were extremely anxious to the point of sickness re the SATs because, I think, of transferred anxiety.
However, DGD took it in her stride because her parents did not express any anxiety to her.

Lillie I can assure you I do not compare my Grandsons results with anyone. I work full time and do not go round the school to collect him. Also I have no one to compare him with as I do not mix in those circles anymore. Glad you said maybe as I don't know why you would think that. Also please note I did not put his scores on here. If I did you could maybe say that. All I have said is I am proud of his achievements but most of all his behaviour leading up to the Sats.

I think the problem is that too many people, maybe like rafichagran, put too much emphasis on comparing their own child's results with those of other less fortunate pupils who do not fare as well in tests for various reasons. Each child is an individual, and not everything should be measured by academic achievement. I always think the best way is to praise effort, application and yes, high marks too, but how other children perform alongside one's own is completely irrelevant.

BB Bevan, I agree and thankyou for your comments re my GS I know some children find things difficult and I accept that. But this does not stop me from being proud of my GS and his achievements. I agree everyone has a opinion on this, and emotions run high, but this was my good news story,and I am happy to share it.

We once had a little boy in Yr 2 doing Sats. He was so upset by the whole thing , that when confronted by the paper, pulled his jumper over his head and sat in silence to the end. We never as a school referred to Sats just ' special work' The pressure must have come from home. This was an extreme reaction but not unknown.
Rachis GD must be a stoical, confident and happy soul to breeze through the tests.
Congratulations to him, his teachers and parents. Some children are not so lucky.

J52

I repeat, I am not arguing about sats, just sharing my pride in my Grandson, I am sorry for children who found it difficult, but I am not in a position to do anything about that. I am talking about my pride in my Grandson, thats all. I would also like to thank people for their private messages of support and telling my Grandson well done.

SATs or no SATs, I was happy with children, who were considered thoughtful and kind human beings.

Both for my own DSs and the hundreds that I taught over the years.