We don’t do SATs!

SATs have long been scrutinised by heads, teachers, parents and the press. These standardised assessments administered to Year 2 and Year 6 children throughout the UK have always been surrounded by negative commentary, not least because of the immense pressure they put upon such young children.

If you visited Hallfield School during SATs week you would be struck with a very different picture. You wouldn’t find children sat in rows, in a large hall, making sense of a test paper, enveloped in an atmosphere of impending doom. Instead, you would see children engaged in learning.

This week alone, children have been transported back in time to the Viking and Anglo Saxon era. Year 3’s dressed up as Ancient Greeks and learnt about authentic Greek food and Greek architecture. Our Senior pupils took a trip to Edgbaston Reservoir, where they photographed and sketched the towers that inspired those in Lord of the Rings, and learnt about the history of Birmingham’s canals. And let’s not forget the Coronation! The whole school came together for a glorious celebration of a rare historical moment and learnt about the British monarchy.

Could learning be anymore enriched?

We don’t think so! And this is why we don’t do SATs. Parrot fashion learning and memorising facts for the SATs goes against our values and mission which is: “to light the fire in every child and discover their interests and passions”. Instead we want parents to trust us! We will “find the brilliance” in your child and nurture that. Our academic results and the highly selective independent and state grammar schools our pupils go to when they leave us in Year 6 or Year 8, are testament to the education we deliver.