A letter every student should read before exams

SAT exams are approaching in Britain worrying students and pupils alike. Results and grades are important, but not the most important in life.

Some schools have been eager to remind pupils that there is a lot more to a person than their grades with an inspirational letter that has been moving parents to tears. The letters have been sent by numerous schools in the country to Year 6 pupils ahead of the latest round of examinations.

The positive message is very similar and in some cases identical but each school has said they agree with the sentiment exactly.

Pupils are reminded that they are ‘special and unique’ and that examiners don’t know them like their teachers or parents do.

Silverdale Primary Academy first sent letters like this two years ago. The Independent claimed in an article two years ago that the idea originated in the United States and has since been adapted.

But Liz Miles, the head teacher of Silverdale, said it is not something that schools have discussed.

She said: ‘It is something that is very reflective of how our school feels about the children.

‘We love our children and we want to do the best they can.’

She added: ‘We have a huge culture of positivity at Silverdale and we really believe that positivity is infectious.

One parent wrote on Facebook that she was saving the letter so she ‘could tell her daughter when she has tests next year’.

The letter:

Dear Year 6 Pupils,

Next week you will sit your SATs 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 test does not assess all of what makes each of you special 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 sing or draw. They have not seen your natural talent for dancing or playing a musical instrument. 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 sports, wonder about the future, or sometimes help your little brother or sister after school. They do not know that you are kind, trustworthy and thoughtful and that every day you try to be your very best.

The levels you will get from this test 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 test andin the midst of it all, remember that there is no way to ‘test’ all of the amazing and awesome things that make you, YOU!

“Educating the mind without educating the heart is no education at all.” Aristotle

Sleep, Rest, Believe and Sparkle!

Good Luck.’

Do you wish you received this letter at school?

Yes, it’s exactly what each pupil should hear.

source: metro.co.uk

Can you match the words and their synonyms?

Key:

1. f.

2. a.

3. e.

4. i.

5. j.

6. b.

7. d.

8. c.

9.  h.

10. g.