SATs 2016 Ardley Hill Academy

Our Team Our team consists of: Mr J Smith – Head teacher Mrs N Read – Deputy Head teacher Mrs N Chamberlain – SENDco Mrs S Bennett – Upper Key Stage 2 Co-ordinator Mrs E Eely – Year 6 teacher for English and general subjects. Mrs E Tafti – Mathematics Co-Ordinator/Year 6 maths teacher.

SATs (Standard assessment tests) Week beginning 9 th May 2016 Week beginning 9 th May 2016 During this week pupils in Year 6 will sit National Curriculum tests in the core subjects English and Maths. During this week pupils in Year 6 will sit National Curriculum tests in the core subjects English and Maths. The Standards & Testing Agency (on behalf of the Department for Education) regulates the national curriculum assessments to ensure that standards are maintained and assessments are fair and effective The Standards & Testing Agency (on behalf of the Department for Education) regulates the national curriculum assessments to ensure that standards are maintained and assessments are fair and effective.

What are they designed to test? Key Stage 2 tests are designed to test pupils’ KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING of specific elements of the key stage 2 programmes of study. They provide a snapshot of pupils’ attainment at the end of the key stage. Pupils take tests in: English Maths

The English and Maths Tests For 2016, a new set of KS2 national curriculum tests has been introduced consisting of: English reading : reading booklet and associated answer booklet English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 1: short answer questions English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 2: spelling mathematics Paper 1: arithmetic mathematics Paper 2: reasoning mathematics Paper 3: reasoning

Spelling and Grammar Tests The grammar, punctuation and spelling test will consist of two parts: a grammar and punctuation paper requiring short answers, lasting 45 minutes, and an aural spelling test of 20 words, lasting around 15 minutes. The grammar and punctuation test will include two sub-types of questions: Selected response, e.g. ‘Identify the adjectives in the sentence below’ Constructed response, e.g. ‘Correct/complete/rewrite the sentence below,’ or, ‘The sentence below has an apostrophe missing. Explain why it needs an apostrophe.’

Mathematics Children will sit three papers in maths: Paper 1: arithmetic, 30 minutes (written) Papers 2 and 3: mathematical fluency, solving problems and reasoning, 40 minutes per paper Paper 1 will consist of fixed response questions, where children have to give the correct answer to calculations, including long multiplication and division. Papers 2 and 3 will involve a number of question types, including: Multiple choice True or false Constrained questions, e.g. giving the answer to a calculation, drawing a shape or completing a table or chart Less constrained questions, where children will have to explain their approach for solving a problem.

There are no ‘higher papers’ all pupils sit a standard test which holds a variety of questions based at different levels.

Dates

Science Not all children in Year 6 will take science SATs. However, a number of schools will be required to take part in science sampling: a test administered to a selected sample of children thought to be representative of the population as a whole. (Monday 6 to Friday 17 June is the science sampling test period in which your child might sit the tests.) For those who are selected, there will be three papers: Biology: 25 minutes, 22 marks Chemistry: 25 minutes, 22 marks Physics: 25 minutes, 22 marks

How will the papers be marked? The old system of national curriculum levels is now no longer used, after the department of education abolished it in Summer Instead, children will be given standardised scores. You will be given your child’s score, alongside the average for their school, the local area and nationally. There will also be a ‘performance descriptor’ of the expected standard for Key Stage 2 pupils. The Department for Education is aiming for 85 per cent of children to reach or exceed that standard.

Maths

English There are three papers; English reading test  three different texts to read, both fiction and non-fiction  comprehension questions on each text  multiple choice or short written answers  worth 1-3 marks English GPS Paper 1: short answer questions  40+ questions  multiple choice or short written answers  worth 1-2 marks each  45 minutes English GPS Paper 2: spelling  20 spellings

Types of answer There are a number of ways in which children will need to answer the questions; Tick boxes Underlining clauses/phrases/text Circling the answer Drawing lines to ‘match’ the answer Labelling parts of speech Short written answers It is vital that children read the questions carefully and follow the instructions given.

Questions may focus on spelling rules such as prefixes, suffixes, homophones

Or they might look at punctuation. Identifying the correct punctuation within sentences or indicating where punctuation should be are common.

Other questions will look at word classes and functions.

Standard English and formality will also be assessed.

There is also a separate spelling paper

What we can do Focus on the skills necessary for the English grammar, spelling and punctuation Paper 1 (as seen in the sample questions). Spelling tests focusing on the statutory list set by government. Reading comprehension practise. Extended writing to practise the skills necessary in a concrete way. Regular testing so that children are familiar with SATs and know what each question involves.

Class intervention We are currently running our first round of Maths intervention sessions. Children receive small group (1:2 or 1:3) support for 30 minutes every day. This time is NOT taken out of their Maths or English time. The interventions are centred around the SATs questions and are linked to class learning.

How can Parents Help? Help with learning spellings – looking for patterns and rules. Encourage children to read: (novels and a variety of forms - leaflets, recipes, instructions, etc.), asking questions to check understanding. Support them through looking at their writing in terms of grammar, punctuation and varied vocabulary. Other resources: Revise-wise website – BBC. CPG revision books. Know targets and how to improve to the next level or sub-level.