Year 6 SATs Tests th to 14 th May

What does SATs Stand For?  Statutory Assessment Tasks and Tests (also includes Teacher Assessment).  Usually taken at the end of Key Stage 1 (at age 7) and at the end of Key Stage 2 (at age 11).

What level should children be at?  Around 85%+ of children are at Level 4 by the end of Key Stage 2.  Some children will still be at Level 3 and some children will achieve Level 5 or above.  A small percentage of children will not yet be working at Level 3.

What level should children be at? Year 2 Age 7 Year 6 Age 11 Level 6Exceptional Level 5Beyond expectations Level 4ExceptionalAt expected level Level 3Beyond expectationsBelow expectations Level 2 2a, 2b, 2c a = higher) At expected level Level 1Below expectations ‘W’ working towards

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

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.

When do these tests happen?  This year the tests dates will be from the 11 th - 15 th May.  It is a busy week for children and staff alike.

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 LA monitor 10% of schools per year.  Children are divided into groups for test administration to ensure they are properly supported and feel secure.

What help can children have?  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 the maths and SPAG papers teachers can read questions to any child who asks, some children will have the whole paper read to them, on a one to one.  Teachers can encourage, 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.

Time Table for The Week DateLevel 3-5 TestsLevel 6 Tests Monday 11 th MayEnglish Reading Test Tuesday 12 th MayEnglish Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Test Wednesday 13 th May Mental Mathematics Test Mathematics – Test 1 Thursday 14 th MayMathematics – Test 2Mathematics -Paper 1 Mathematics -Paper 2

The Reading Test Level 3-5  Children are given a reading booklet with three to four texts. There will be no theme. The least demanding text will come first with the following texts increasing in difficulty.  The children will have an hour to read the texts answer approximately 35 questions totalling 50 marks

The Reading Test Level 3-5  Children can refer back to the texts in the reading booklet throughout the tests.  Questions are: shorter closed response items and longer, more open response types.  Questions are worth 1,2 or 3 marks.

Reading Test Level 6  A reading booklet containing around three or four texts based on the same theme which children have 10 minutes to read.  They may refer back to the text to answer questions.  There are approximately 25 questions (Totalling 30-35marks)  They have 50 minutes to answer the questions.  Questions are worth 1,2,3 or 4 marks.

English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Test  The test will assess children’s ability in grammar, punctuation, spelling and vocabulary.  Paper 1 has short answer questions (40-50 questions) assessing grammar, punctuation and vocabulary (50marks). Paper 2 assesses spellings (20 marks).  The results for the English test will be reported separately by the Department of Education. This means no overall English level will be given.  Pupil’s writing will be assessed by Teachers.

English Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling Test Level 6  50 marks with 3 elements  A writing task assessing their grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.  A booklet of short answer questions.  A spelling task.

Mathematics Tests Level 3-5  Two non calculator papers, lasting 45 minutes each.  Mental Mathematics test lasts 20 minutes. (20 marks)  Children’s marks from all three tests are aggregated to calculate their overall mathematics level.

Mathematics Tests Level 6  Paper 1 is a non calculator paper, lasting 30 minutes.  Paper 2 is a calculator paper lasting 30 minutes long.  Children’s marks from all three tests are aggregated to calculate their overall mathematics level.

Top Tips  Ensure children have a good nights sleep before the tests.  Make sure children have breakfast before they come to school. School will provide breakfast in school hall that week for Y6 pupils from 8.15am.  Talk to them about the tests.  Don’t put too much pressure on them.

What are we doing in school?  Promoting test techniques  Practising areas highlighted from SATs test and  Work in class.  Withdrawal groups/individuals. Self assessment and opportunity for reflection to identify strengths and weaknesses in own learning Use of individual targets for children  Access to interactive websites

How can parents help?  The best help is by taking an interest in your child’s learning and progress.  Encourage your child to ask their teacher if they are unsure  Attending meetings and parents’ evenings.  Supporting homework.  Not putting children under too much pressure by over-emphasising revision work.  Explain SATS are a way of showing what they know – THEY CAN’T FAIL!  Ensuring children arrive for school:  every day  in good time  having had breakfast  having gone to bed at a reasonable time

How can I help my child? Here are many other ways you can help your child do well at school.  Make sure you know what homework is set and encourage your child to do it thoroughly.  Encourage your child to read quietly for 15 minutes each day.  If possible, give your child lots of experiences – visits to a museum, art gallery, historic building, canal, river, countryside etc and lots of conversation to develop vocabulary  Find opportunities for your child to use numbers in everyday situations and encourage them to work out calculations in their head. Know their times tables  Encourage your child to follow up interests and talk about them.  Allow your child to work in a quiet environment, if possible a different room from where your child would normally relax.  Do not exceed minutes working each night.  Fire questions at your child from time to time  Put revision post it notes in appropriate places around the home.

Useful Websites  BBC KS2 Bitesize –  Woodlands Junior School

What information do parents get and when?  Test papers are sealed and sent to external markers after the tests. The papers arrive back in school usually 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 and Maths.