People love this primary school's inspirational letter to pupils ahead of their exams this week

Children up and down the country are fighting nerves ahead of the Sats tests this week - especially considering the recent noise about whether the new exams are too hard and place too much pressure on young children.

The headteacher at a primary school in East Sussex sent out a letter to 10 and 11 year old Year 6 pupils to remind them the tests don't "assess all of what makes you special and unique", and parents are so touched by the gesture it's been uploaded to Facebook and shared thousands of times.

It reads:

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 SAT tests do 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 then, 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 yo 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 and in 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

Headteacher Jennie King told BBC South East:

I firmly believe a child needs a good grounding in academic subjects, but the tests aren't the be-all and end-all. They are stressful for children.

Children need to be outside riding their bikes, socialising and doing things that open them up culturally.

Apparently several school around the country have sent similar letters. The idea is thought to have originated in the US.

HT: BBC South East

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