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Tiverton school head tells parent party plans 'risk exams' Tiverton school head tells parent party plans 'risk exams'
(about 1 hour later)
A Devon school has written to a parent, suggesting a party planned for her 13-year-old child could affect the work of her younger daughter. A Devon school has written to a parent suggesting a party planned for her 13-year-old child could affect the work of her younger daughter.
Tina Adams organised the party this Sunday, but the Tiverton school raised concerns over the effect on her 11-year-old, due to sit exams on Monday. Tina Adams organised the party for this Sunday, but the Tiverton school raised concerns over the effect on her 11-year-old, due to sit exams on Monday.
Ms Adams said the school, Castle Primary, should not be interfering.Ms Adams said the school, Castle Primary, should not be interfering.
Head teacher Cathy Noble said she did not intend any distress but sometimes "allowances" needed to be made.Head teacher Cathy Noble said she did not intend any distress but sometimes "allowances" needed to be made.
'Stoop so low''Stoop so low'
In a letter to Ms Adams, Mrs Noble said she had "heard a little bit of gossip I hope is not true" about the party, organised the day before a week of Sats exams.In a letter to Ms Adams, Mrs Noble said she had "heard a little bit of gossip I hope is not true" about the party, organised the day before a week of Sats exams.
Mrs Noble went on to suggest it be held five days later in case it affected the school work of Ms Adams' daughter in year six.Mrs Noble went on to suggest it be held five days later in case it affected the school work of Ms Adams' daughter in year six.
Ms Adams said the party was due to finish at 21:30 BST, and she understood if parents of those attending only wanted their children to visit for an hour.Ms Adams said the party was due to finish at 21:30 BST, and she understood if parents of those attending only wanted their children to visit for an hour.
But she added it was not for the school to say when it should be held.But she added it was not for the school to say when it should be held.
She said: "The party is for my 13-year-old daughter, not for my 11-year-old, and I don't believe that an hour or so is going to have an effect on exam performance.She said: "The party is for my 13-year-old daughter, not for my 11-year-old, and I don't believe that an hour or so is going to have an effect on exam performance.
"I think it's sad teachers are being put under so much pressure that they would stoop so low so as to spoil a child's birthday party. It put a horrible feeling on it."I think it's sad teachers are being put under so much pressure that they would stoop so low so as to spoil a child's birthday party. It put a horrible feeling on it.
"Why should I be dictated to by a school only interested in ticking boxes in league tables? This is an invasion of my child's and my private life out of school.""Why should I be dictated to by a school only interested in ticking boxes in league tables? This is an invasion of my child's and my private life out of school."
In a statement, Mrs Noble acknowledged she wrote to see if it was possible to delay the party.In a statement, Mrs Noble acknowledged she wrote to see if it was possible to delay the party.
She said: "There is more to life - and school - than exams. But our young people need to learn an important lesson that will help them throughout their lives: there are times when we need to make allowances if we are to do our best."She said: "There is more to life - and school - than exams. But our young people need to learn an important lesson that will help them throughout their lives: there are times when we need to make allowances if we are to do our best."
She added it was never her intention to cause the family "any distress and I have discussed this with her".She added it was never her intention to cause the family "any distress and I have discussed this with her".
"However, I would rather be seen to be trying too hard than not hard enough," she said."However, I would rather be seen to be trying too hard than not hard enough," she said.
Ian Bruce, of the National Association of Head Teachers, said heads were "always looking to improve results year on year", and that work was examined by Ofsted inspectors.
He added: "In Sats week, there is pressure on schools to make sure that all the children are in, that they are wide awake, as it were; and people try a variety of things to make sure they are in the right frame of mind."
The Department for Education said such tests measured children's progress.