Year 5 tests?

[Rachyhayes]

Hi my family and I have moved to Milton Keynes from Glasgow. My son has tests in year 5 which we don't have in Scotland. What are these for? What topics are covered? Thanks in advance

[user789653241]

They have official test(SATs) in yr2 and yr6. Not in yr5.
It might be something they do at your school?
(My ds's school does termly test)

[Norestformrz]

They are probably internal tests used by the school only they can tell you as there are no national tests in Y5

[Rachyhayes]

Thanks for the replies not so worried now

[MongerTruffle]

They could be using the optional SATs (made over a decade ago by whatever the DfE was called back then).

[Norestformrz]

They could be but they don't match the current National Curriculum so wouldn't be that useful

[Julraj]

All schools are required to have yearly assessments between Year 3 and Year 5 inclusive.

They are internally created, marked and moderated though and rarely reported outside of the school.

[spanieleyes]

Schools are not required to have tests in any years other than the statutory ones. But many do. Some schools use alternative methods of assessment ( teacher assessment, objective assessment etc) rather than tests.

[Norestformrz]

As spaniel eyes says schools are free to assess in any way they want and to use whatever criteria /content they decide for years 1,3,4 and 5.

[Feenie]

All schools are required to have yearly assessments between Year 3 and Year 5 inclusive.

Complete bollocks.

[Julraj]

Bollocks it is not. I am a recently retired teacher.

See here at the bottom of page 2 as it moves to page 3.

[Feenie]

The curriculum must include an assessment system which enables schools to check what pupils have learned and whether they are on track to meet expectations at the end of the key stage

This bit?^

Yep - nothing about tests or their frequency.

[Feenie]

They are internally created, marked and moderated though and rarely reported outside of the school.

Also cobblers - many schools use NFER or PIRA tests and the like in Years 3-5.

Since each school is free to assess as they like in those years, it's probably best not to make sweeping erroneous statements like this, julraj.

[spanieleyes]

And I'm a current Head-are we playing one-upmanship?

[Feenie]

Ooh, when did that happen, spanieleyes?

[Norestformrz]

Nothing in there that says schools have to test pupils in any years other than Y2 and Y6 only that they must have a system to check pupils are on track to meet expectations in Y2 and Y6. There has never been a requirement to test in other year groups.

[spanieleyes]

Last Easter
Thankfully it's within a federation, so someone else has ultimate responsibility-I just get all the flack!

[Feenie]

Wow - belated congratulations!

[spanieleyes]

Thank You! I still manage to teach a little ( once a week!) but at least as Head, I can choose which class ( so how I managed to give myself bottom set Year 6 I'm not sure!)

[user789653241]

Oh, I really envy children in your school, spanieleyes
Brilliant. Congratulations.

[spanieleyes]

[Norestformrz]

Yes congratulations!

[FineSpanishLady]

Maybe CAT tests? Some schools do these in Y5, particularly if you're in a grammar area. (They're aptitude tests that you don't prepare for, so supposedly a good test of raw ability for 11+.)

[jubbablub]

Norest Actually, they’ve updated optional SATs and there are sets to use for the new curriculum.

[Feenie]

What?!! STA have NOT updated since 2011 - they therefore predate the new curriculum of 2014, so certainly don't match it in any way.

What is with the posts on this thread!

[spanieleyes]

Companies may well be producing assessment tests geared towards year 5 ( and other years too) but these are NOT statutory tests and are not compulsory-nor are they standardised in any way ( other than by the companies concerned) to the Year 2 and Year 6 tests. So the results can give you an indication of the level your child is working at and schools can and do use them but, unless you use the NCT year 2 and Year 6 tests, the results are just that company's idea of what a year 5 child should achieve.