What are SATs? Statutory Assessment Tasks and Tests; They are used to chart a child’s progress through the National Curriculum; Usually taken at the end of Key Stage 1 (at age 7) and at the end of Key Stage 2 (at age 11); Year 6 SATs are used as a starting point for a child’s secondary school career; This is the last year of the tests in this format; They are one method of judging how well a school is performing.

What is a National Curriculum level? There are eight levels in the National Curriculum; The highest level a child can achieve at a primary school is Level 5; Each level is split into three sub-levels; At the end of Year 2 a child is expected to be working at Level 2 and at the end of Year 6 a child is expected to be working at Level 4. W W1c1b1a2c2b2a3c3b3a4c4b4a5c5b5a

How are the children assessed? For children working at Level 3 and above, there are two sorts of assessments: tests and teacher assessments. For children working below Level 3 the only statutory assessment is teacher assessment and those children do not need to take the tests.

When do these tests happen? This year it is the week beginning 9th May. All tests take place in that week. Monday 9 th May – Reading Tuesday 10 th May – Writing (short and long) and Spelling Wednesday 11 th May – Mental Maths and Maths A Thursday 12 th May – Maths B Friday 13 th Science Sampling The test must be taken on the date set. There is no flexibility.

What do the tests involve?

MATHS

Mental Maths There are 20 questions which the children hear on CD. Each question is read twice. They involve a range of skills, not just ‘numbers.’ Working out time is 5, 10 or 15 seconds. The test is worth 20% of the overall subject mark.

Paper A In this 45 minute written paper calculators are not allowed; Some questions are worth only one mark and therefore accuracy is important; Other questions are worth two marks and even if the answer is wrong, a mark may be given for correct working; The emphasis is always on being able to use and apply maths, rather than just ‘doing sums’. Teachers may read questions in both written papers to pupils if asked.

Paper B This paper is similar to Paper A but there are ‘bigger’ numbers and a calculator is allowed (but not always needed). Calculator skills are taught as part of their every day maths lessons.

ENGLISH

Reading Comprehension 15 minutes independent reading time and 45 minutes to read and answer questions; No help with reading/explaining is allowed, but teachers may help write answers if this is necessary; Spelling, punctuation and grammar are not important; The test covers Levels 3-5 and is worth 50% of the overall English mark; Separate reading and writing levels are also given; Most marks are for explanations.

Reading Comprehension

Writing There are two writing tests. There will be no choice of writing prompt. Short Writing Test: 20 minutes including planning time. Long Writing Test: 45 minutes including planning time.

Spelling This is a short dictated passage with 20 words to be spelled. Marks from the spelling test will be aggregated with the writing tests and contribute to the overall level recorded. They will also be aggregated with the reading and writing test marks and contribute to the overall subject award at Levels 3-5.

Handwriting Handwriting will be assessed in the longer writing test rather than in a separate test.

SCIENCE

Paper A A range of questions, some over two pages, with a number of parts. The test lasts 45 minutes. Teachers may read questions to pupils. There is an emphasis on scientific ‘process’ set in a range of contexts and a focus on investigations and experiments.

Paper B Similar to Paper A. Both papers will be taken on the same day (Monday). In both tests teachers may read questions to pupils if asked.

What does teacher assessment involve, and is it different from testing? Teacher assessment draws together everything the teacher or teachers know about a child, including observations, marked work and school assessments. Teacher assessment is not a ‘snapshot’ like tests and is therefore more reliable. There can be a difference between teacher assessment results and test levels. Teacher assessment only is used for children who work below level 3.

How is SATs week organised? A timetable is issued to school, telling us on which days tests must be administered; We can determine at what time tests begin; All children must sit the tests at the same time; Test papers can only be opened 1 hour before the tests begin; Tests are completed in classrooms, with any displays that may help covered over; The LEA monitor a percentage of schools each year to ensure that all procedures are being correctly followed. Kitwell has a ‘Breakfast Club’!

What help can be provided during a test? In the reading test, children must read the text and questions by themselves, but MAY have help recording their answers if this is done in a normal classroom situation; In maths and science, teachers can read questions to any child who asks; Teachers can encourage the children, but not guide or say that an answer is correct or incorrect; Some children can be given up to 25% extra time if they have identified learning needs. This has to be applied for in advance; Words on a test paper can be transcribed where a marker may not be able to read a child’s answer.

How can parents help?

The best help is interest taken in learning and progress; Encourage your child to do homework thoroughly; Encourage your child to read for up to twenty minutes each day; Help your child learn times tables and spellings; Talk to your child about what they are learning at school;

How can parents help? Not putting children under too much pressure by over-emphasising revision work; Ensuring children arrive for tests: -in good time -having had breakfast -having gone to bed at a reasonable time.

In this Year 6 class… Children have: Spelling booklets – Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check – 5 out of 7 days – bring in on Monday; Reading Records – Green (for reviews); - Monkey Reading Record Book for Reading at home. Bring in on allocated day or when a book/books need changing. Homework diaries – Bring in on Monday, Wednesday and Friday – signed; take home on Monday, Wednesday and Friday – with homework tasks written in.

In this Year 6 class….cont… Children have a handwriting book for handwriting homework. A ‘Spelling Sentences’ book for ‘spelling sentence’ homework. Maths homework is on sheets. Literacy homework is sometimes on sheets. A ‘Science Sentences’ book for writing science sentences homework in (Spring Term). If science sentences are not set, then there will be another piece of homework which may be science or another subject. Homework is set on a Monday to be handed in on Wednesday, Wednesday to be handed in on Friday and Friday to be handed in on Monday, at the latest.

Homework in Year 6… Learn spellings – complete Look, Say, Cover, Write, Check booklet(s); Reading – 10 – 20 minutes every night, with support wherever possible – listening and helping/correcting as well as asking questions/discussing; discuss VCOP used (Vocabulary, Connectives, sentence Openers and Punctuation); Handwriting – write out all spelling words at least once; Spelling sentences – write 10 sentences to show the meaning of 10 of the spelling words – aim to achieve individual WILF.

Homework in Year 6… continued Learn tables; Maths – differentiated and extension tasks – usually linked to area of Maths studied in school; Another subject – Science sentences - the words used will have been words we have discussed in the lesson, therefore, your child should know what they mean! If they don’t, some research and discussion may be necessary, but pupils need to put definitions in their own words; copying from a dictionary, will not help their understanding as greatly.

Sending past tests home… Enables you to see the sorts of questions your child may be asked; Allows you to see where their areas of strength/ development are; Allows your child to explain some of the questions they got wrong now they know how to get them right; Please go through the first few questions that your child got wrong first time round allowing them to explain how they’d do them now. Look at alternative methods and ways of checking answers. Please sign the booklet to show you have done this together.

Tips for Pupils Don’t panic! See this as a challenge and a chance to ‘show off’ how well you have been working and how much you have learned and progressed - “Do your best”. Get early nights and plenty of sleep. Drink water and eat more ‘brain food’ and less ‘strain food’. Find a balance between work and play. Work in little chunks, but more often. Think positively – You can do it!!

What information do parents get and when? Test papers are sent to external markers after the tests and arrive back in school early in July; Schools then check the results and papers to ensure there are no errors. Sometimes papers are sent for re-marking; Schools must inform parents of SATs results by the end of the school year in July; Parents receive test and teacher assessment levels for English, maths and science; Parents are given the overall school results as a percentage. These are compared to the previous year’s national figures.

What information do secondary schools receive? Birmingham LEA has common transfer information between primary and secondary schools; Information is transferred by computer; This includes name, date of birth, unique pupil number, Key Stage 1 SATs results, Year 6 teacher assessments, plus any other information; Secondary schools have this information by July, which helps them to group children and provide necessary support; The Secondary school will discuss with the teacher your child’s performance prior to the testing; Secondary schools are sent Key Stage 2 SATs results.

How can I help right now?

Study Guides

The Internet (Curriculum Links)