1. The importance of SATS
Year 6- May 2017

2. 2015-16 A year of change! 2016-17 A year to embed…
2015- New Curriculum, new standards, new assessment papers, new school tracking (assessment without levels)
No real guidance on what the assessment papers in May 2016 looked like- some sample materials were shared throughout the year but very high standards and not very child friendly

3. Key Issues…
School systems became obsolete as levels were removed and children who were classed as working above were now generally ‘average’ and those who were ‘average’ were now below
Stat subject knowledge and pitch and expectation for children changed overnight
Papers no longer started easy and built up- no real content for the less able pupils
Taking the papers can be a challenge for pupils unless they are fully prepared and resilient
Generally- children were now expected to reach Y3 standards in Y2 and Y7 standards in Y6
Our assessment system was committed to teaching the gaps that children had and the new standards meant gaps would appear if we aimed for ‘quick wins’
Children in Y6 last year had 1 year to adapt under a new framework, a curriculum requires 4 year to teach properly- this makes current Y5 and Y6 pupils vulnerable to the assessments if not supported well

4. Why are they important?
They are key measures and ‘milestones’ for individual pupils, groups, the whole class and the whole school!
We are judged as a school on our Y2 and Y6 results
They create a starting point (and progress paths) for each child in KS2 or at Secondary School

5. Can staff help my child? Unfortunately not!
Assessment should be based on what a child can do independently and consistently
If a child has a special education need then we can adapt the test (include breaks, use a quieter room, allow longer time- if this is normal everyday practice for this child- but we cannot help them with the content other than reading the questions word for word)
Some children can be omitted from the assessment but this is normally when a child cannot access the paper or the assessment would be likely to cause great distress
Children must be present, and on time, for all assessments- holidays cannot be taken by law
If a child is ill the school will offer an isolated room for the child and school hours to match the assessment timetable

6. Year 5- WHY US!
A group with great potential and a great deal of ability
Struggle to perform on assessments and under ‘exam’ pressure based on recent evidence
They are receiving similar provision to Y6 and any extra help from parents now will boost their progress
Why not start now?

7. Year 6- SATS Children to have practice assessments throughout the year
Teachers conduct Question Level Analyses and redesign the curriculum, boosters and intervention groups
2x MOCK exams- children to practice the emotional side of assessment and the timed elements- also won’t hurt to practice the very dry style of questions and get personalised outcomes and targets to guide them and encourage them to beat their score next time!
For MOCKS we will do things exactly as the SATS week would be- breakfast club at 8am, take the tests in the appropriate rooms with the appropriate staff

8. Year 6- SATS WEEK- Monday 14th May 2017
Monday- Reading assessment- 1 paper (1 hour)
Tuesday- spelling (20 words), grammar and punctuation (45 minutes)
Wednesday- Arithmetic (40 minutes) and reasoning paper 1 (40 minutes)
Thursday- Reasoning paper 2 (40 minutes)

9. Year 6
A capable cohort of children with potential to achieve, very good attitudes to learning!
National combined average last year 77% and school average 73% (13% up on 2016)
This cohort will benefit from specialist Literacy and mathematics teaching and additional boosting, HT involved in teaching plus a team of staff contributing, possible mentoring
Parent workshops offered and additional resources being researched and purchased- quick meeting after Y5/6 assembly in November to plan input and share ideas
Must target the children’s weaknesses, especially children who can achieve in some areas but not others
(Results at the start of July- normally at the end of Y6 leavers’ party)

10. How can you help your child?
Daily (and varied) reading materials
Practice resources- online games/activities
Problem solving- reasoning- if they know a maths question- how do they know? Challenge them!
Give them hooks to hang their learning on- multiplication facts, spelling rules, etc
Discussion about the latest news, views on films, descriptions of events/people/places
Encourage a resilient and committed approach to learning- come to as many extra activities as possible

11. Revision Guides Example:
Maths Booklets: support the child, can be used alongside the learning journal, give guidance on mathematical strategies- also target more able provision
Other books for reading/SPAG being researched
Seeing what is around for Y5 too

12. Test Papers
Examples:
KS1: nal-curriculum-assessments-practice- materials#key-stage-1-past-papers
KS2: nal-curriculum-assessments-practice-materials

13. Any questions?
@ShawlandsPS This presentation is available online at: