Can anyone help explain KS2 sats levels to me please??

[gingertoo]

I didn't even realise he was doing them but while the Year 6's were sitting their sats, they got the Year 5's to sit papers of different levels to 'see where they were up to'. My DS is YR5.
His head teacher stopped me outside school yesterday to say that Ds had done 'exceptionally well' in the tests and that his teacher would need to see me. When I asked my Ds about it last night and he told me that he's got a 5a in Maths and a 5b in English - which in his words is 'well good'

Trouble is, I don't really understand what 5a and 5b means and I don't want to appear stupid in front of DS's teacher! - Obviously from the head's comment, I can assume that he's done well but why would his teacher need to see me? Any ideas?

[Madsometimes]

Your son is quite right, he has done very well indeed! Year 6 children are expected to score a level 4, and the higher acheivers can go for a level 5. Your son has done this in year 5 .
Each level is divided into abc, so a 5a is a high level 5, and a 5c is a low level 5.

[Madsometimes]

Perhaps they want to see you to discuss him being put on the gifted and talented program? I am sure it must be something to do with ensuring the school meets his needs.

[CandleQueen]

Only yr 6 and yr 2 sit official SAT papers, but other years can take tests if bought in by the school.

[Dysgu]

Wow - well done to him. I am a Y6 teacher currently on maternity leave so have 'missed' SATs this year! It is very common for Y5 childfren to sit the optional papers (and many Y3 and Y4 sit them too - they are designed for the year group). I am not sure if your DS sat the 'real' SAT papers or the optionals but, technically, it should make no difference to the outcome.

With regards to levels - the 'average' child at the Y6 SATs is expected to achieve a 4B. Of course, many achieve higher and many achieve lower levels.

I teach in a middle school so also teach English and Maths to year 7. To be achieving levels 5a and 5b would indicate working at a top set Y7 level as children are 'expected to make two sub-levels' progress each year - so achieving 4b at the end of Y6 would aim for progress to 5c at end of year 7 and 5a-ish at the end of Y8.

At this time in Y5 the 'average' child would be aiming to be at about 3a in order to achieve 4b in next year's SATs.

So, in respect to these tests, your son has done fabulously well. I imagine he is also achiving fabulously well in class and you need to discuss this with the school. I expect the Headteacher wants to speak to you as these results would indicate that your son should be on the Gifted and Talented register and is high academic needs should be being met by the school (in a similar way that chi;ldren with low academic achievement have their special needs met) - above all, your son should be able to continue to make progress rather than 'sit still' whilst the others catch up.

(On a personal/professional level though I just want to say you need to check that he is achieving at these levels consistently and that the school also feels he fully understands the concepts he has been/will be taught if covering a more advance curriculum)

Again, well done to him ( but hopefully he enjoys school and has lots of friends - which I feel are more important than high levels at the end of the day!)

[gingertoo]

WOW!
That has explained alot - I can understand why they would want to see me now! - Thanks for your replies
Dysgu - thanks for the specific advice. I'll definitely check that he is working consistently at these levels. I also agree with you totally that high levels are not the only thing to think about - thankfully my ds loves school, enjoys loads of clubs and activities and has some good mates -he's very laid back about how he does at school - so laid back, that I didn't realise quite how well he was doing

[frankbestfriend]

Can I ask a quick question of the Sats experts please?

My 8yo dd is currently doing optional Sats papers in Y3, what level would the school be expecting her to attain?

[Feenie]

2a/3c for 'average' y3 - whatever that means!

[stillenacht]

blimey you are so lucky - i am a teacher and know shit loads about the levels where DS should be etc etc and my DS in year 5 is on 3B...maybe i should adopt a laid back, not fussed (let him get on with it) attitude and he might do a bit better....

Gah!

[frankbestfriend]

Blardy tests anyway.

Dd has been so stressed worrying about her marks, apparently they have all been sharing and comparing their results

Wish the school would not cause unnecessary stress to my 8yo with non compulsory testing. The compulsory ones at y2 and y6 are more than enough thanks

[scoobster]

my son is in y3 and has been doing the optional tests, at the end of y2 he came out with all 3's which i was very proud of but am now slightly concerned that he might not have progressed this year at all as his brain seems to have gone blank!!!!! not in everything but some things he seems to have to be relearning as he's forgotten how and what to do!:0)))) hopefully he will have progressed as the teacher seems to think theres nothing to worry about!!! even if it's just a little bit i'll be happy!!!!!

[Feenie]

This thread is two years old. Maybe you could start a new one?

[XxRihannaxx4xX]

Well... i'm in secondry at the momment and my school focuses on lvl's so there's no excuse of not no what it is basically, for an example like you said levle 5a and lvl 5 b an so on... they tell you how high u r .
1a-3a is very low: 4a-6a is very,very good LEVEL 5 IS EXELLENT
(1a, 1b, 1c (4a,4b,4c LEVEL 4 IS AVERAGE
2a, 2b, 2c 3a) 5a,5b,5c) LEVEL 3 IS WORK
HARDER

LEVEL 2 IS BABY
WORK

LEVEL 1 IS YOU
HAVE PRO

[PastSellByDate]

Mumsnet Learning pages has an explanation of expected progress through NC Levels here: www.mumsnet.com/learning/assessment/progress-through-national-curriculum-levels

Table at base of page shows expected progress for notional average child each year of primary school.

HTH