Year 6 SATS Information session Thursday 12th January 2017

timetable SATs for this academic year take place from Monday 8th May – Thursday 11th May 2017 Monday 8th - English Reading Test Tuesday 9th - GPS Test Paper 1 (short answer questions) Paper 2 (spelling) Wednesday 10th - Maths Paper 1 - Arithmetic Paper 2 - Reasoning Thursday 11th - Maths Paper 3 - Reasoning  

Science Science results are calculated from on going assessment. We have to submit a Teacher Assessment level for each child, calculated from a given formula. School results may be subject to moderation - we will know this in early Spring.

Logistics The idea is that the children sit the tests in as 'near to normal' classroom conditions as is possible. This will mean them sitting in their Y6 classrooms where possible with their usual subject teacher.

English The English SATs tests now comprise the following assessed components:  The Reading Test  The GPS Test (punctuation and grammar questions) The GPS test (spelling test)  Writing Moderation - teacher assessed

The reading test This year, the texts in the English reading booklet will not be linked by a theme. The booklet will contain three or four texts. The least demanding text will come first with the following texts increasing in level of difficulty. Children will have a total of one hour to read the texts and complete the questions. The reading answer booklet will comprise of approximately 35 to 40 questions with a total of 50 marks. There are a range of questions including multiple choice, short and longer responses. Questions are worth 1, 2 or 3 marks.

Reading question stems You should have been provided with a sheet titled 'Question Stems'. This sheet is extremely useful as it details question 'starters' that will most likely crop up in the Reading SAT this year. It would be useful if, when reading with your children at home, you ask questions (linked to their reading) which begin with these question stems. Asking one questions from each 'domain' would also be beneficial. The sheet is also available on our school website

The gps test The English grammar, punctuation and spelling test has two components, worth a total of 70 marks: a booklet of short-answer questions a spelling task Paper 1, the short-answer questions, consists of between 40 and 50 questions assessing grammar, punctuation and vocabulary. Each question is worth one or two marks with a total for the paper of 50 marks. Paper 2, the spelling task, consists of 20 sentences, which are read aloud by the test administrator. Each sentence has a word missing which the child must complete. The task is worth a total of 20 marks.

Writing moderation As the year progresses, pupils will also be assessed on their writing performance on a range of text types. These tasks will be teacher assessed and will help build a profile of each child's writing ability. Throughout the year, we will be revisiting a range of text types to make sure that pupils are familiar with each and feel confident.

How to help your children at home Encourage your child to read anything and everything: road signs, cereal boxes, web pages, recipes, TV listings ... Ask them questions about their reading, wherever possible, read with them ... even if you don't like their choice of reading material! Play spelling games with them e.g. ask them to write the shopping list or play eye-spy. Show them the importance of words; they are everywhere!

mathematics No coursework or continuous assessment so on the day, every mark counts There is an arithmetic paper and 2 'reasoning' papers, all to be completed without a calculator. Each paper is worth approximately 1/3 of the total marks. The test covers all aspects of maths covered in KS2. Somewhere in one of the 3 tests will be reference to all of the skills and knowledge they have learned in KS2. Questions are worth up to 3 marks. This is indicated on the paper and helps the children to know how long to spend on it - 1 minute per mark as a general rule! All children will sit the same papers. There is no longer a paper for higher level children thus some of the questions within these papers will be aimed more at these children. All our children will be able to answer some questions however some children will not be able to answer all.

Arithmetic paper Questions are generally worth one mark each. Although there is no mental maths test anymore, some of the questions require children to quickly recall and use mental strategies. Throughout the paper, challenge is increased with larger numbers, more decimal places and more complex fraction calculations. There are some 2 mark questions requiring long multiplication or division - children can attain one mark for using the correct method with only one mistake. For each question a squared grid is provided for children to do their working out.

Reasoning papers These papers require children to demonstrate their use of mathematical fluency to solving problems both in and out of context. Calculators are not permitted. Papers 2 and 3 have no significant difference between them, the main focus of each will be related to number, calculations, fractions, ratio and algebra. A lesser focus to each will be measurement, geometry and statistics. Children will be completing practice papers to prepare them as much as possible.

Relentless rigour At school, we have long since adopted a 'relentless rigour' approach in numeracy, especially when it comes to arithmetic. Your child is accessing daily arithmetic sessions with the aim of EVERY child in Y6 achieving at least 30/40 on their arithmetic test.

National standard 2016

How to help at home Complete weekly homework. Often it will be related to what we have covered in class that week or it could be revision. Further revision using study books. Work on times tables and number bonds. Access old SATs papers on the internet to practise questions. Use of all of our fantastic apps to further enhance your child's learning at home Using and applying maths in your daily life.

Apps and online learning

Revision materials As May approaches we will be asking children to do more revision at home. There are many revision guides currently on the market. We have picked some examples of books for you to have a look at. They are available to view at school and your are welcome to place an order for revision booklets in school. Equally, leading book shops such as WH Smith and Waterstones will also stock similar types of revision guides

Scaled scores A pupil’s scaled score will be based on their raw score. The raw score is the total number of marks a pupil receives in a test - based on the number of questions they answered correctly. The pupil’s raw score will be translated into a scaled score using a conversion table (the DfE will not publish these until after the tests have been completed and marked). A pupil who achieves the national standard will have demonstrated sufficient knowledge in the areas assessed by the tests. This will mean that they are well placed to succeed in the next phase of their education.

attendance One of the biggest things that can influence a child's performance in the SATs is attendance. As you have seen, we have a lot of work to do in Year 6 and, although we obviously understand that children do get ill, it is really important that we try to have them in school as much as possible.

During sats week By this time, the most important thing we can do for our children is to make sure they are relaxed, prepared and calm. Please ask one of us in school if you have any questions or queries.