A British school wants its students to know that they are amazing and intelligent, regardless of their test scores.
When year-six students from Barrowford Primary School in Lancashire, England, received the results from a recent exam, they also got a sweet letter reminding them that they are not defined by test scores, according to Fox local affiliate WGHP-TV. The letter was signed by the school's head teacher and head of year six, and said that "[test] scores you get will tell you something, but they will not tell you everything."
The school later tweeted a photo of the letter:
According to U.K. outlet The Independent, the text may be a version of a letter written by an unidentified American school principal and shared among Facebook users last year. Barrowford's head teacher, Rachel Tomlinson, said she felt the letter was worth passing on to her own students.
“We’ve felt supported as a school globally -- and it’s a surprise too because the message is really no different to what we do on a day to day basis," Tomlinson told The Independent.
Here's the full text of the letter given to Barrowford students:
Please find enclosed your end of KS2 test results. We are very proud of you as you demonstrated huge amounts of commitment and tried your very best during this tricky week.
However, we are concerned that these tests do not always assess all of what it is that make each of you special and unique. The people who create these tests and score them do not know each of you- the way your teachers do, the way I hope to, and certainly not the way your families do.
They do not know that many of you speak two languages. They do not know that you can play a musical instrument or that you can dance or paint a picture. They do not know that your friends count on you to be there for them or that your laughter can brighten the dreariest day.
They do not know that you write poetry or songs, play or participate in sports, wonder about the future, or that sometimes you take care of your little brother or sister after school.
They do not know that you have travelled to a really neat place or that you know how to tell a great story or that you really love spending time with special family members and friends.
They do not know that you can be trustworthy, kind or thoughtful, and that you try, every day, to be your very best… the scores you get will tell you something, but they will not tell you everything.
So enjoy your results and be very proud of these but remember there are many ways of being smart.
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