DD got a level 4 in literacy in Year 3 apparently

[KnittingHill]

Her report didn't say this (didn't give any marks or grades) - her teacher told me at the end of term and said DD should be very proud of herself . I told my mum, whose best friend is a teacher, and she (best friend) said it was unlikely to be right - that you CAN'T get a level 4 in Year 3. DD did get a level 3 last year, and I am sure I didn't mishear her teacher saying it was a level 4 . Any experts out there that can help me out? . DD is good at reading and writing (unlike maths lol!) and loves talking .

[Yurtgirl]

I am in no way an expert (and tbh I think SATs and levels are silly) but of course you can be working at level 4 in year 3

[KnittingHill]

So, it isn't that the tests only go up to a certain level then? I remember with my GCSE's that you couldn't get more than a 'c' on some maths papers. I wonder if that's what my mum's friend is thinking?
I know dd is good at literacy stuff, and felt a bit deflated when my mum told me what her friend said .

[raggitty555]

You can get level 4 in year 3 -my dd same and it was written in report .

[KnittingHill]

Thanks raggitty. I will pass that back to mum's friend . We didn't get much information in our school reports, but I am assuming level 4 is pretty good? I can't compare with anyone in real life - maybe that is why we weren't given the levels in the reports lol!

[applepudding]

Yes - as others have said - you can get level 4 in Y3

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

Yes, of course you can - KS2 papers go up to level 5. Well done to your DD.

[primarymum]

I teach YR 2/3 and a few of my children reached Level 4, mainly for reading ( including one of my Yr2's who sat the yr 3 tests!). It is a very impressive level to achieve any you should be very proud ( and the teacher who said it was impossible should be told otherwise!) Any level given shouldn't just be based on a single test, but should be based on the level of their work, so in theory ANY level is possible!

[mrz]

Children in Y3 won't be tested using a KS2 SAT paper if the school uses tests they will probably use the optional SAT tests which are aimed at each year group rather than at a Key Stage.

Level 4 is the expected level at the end of Y6 and in Y3 level 3a would be considered good if a child was level 3 in the KS1 SAT assessments.
Perhaps this is what your mother's friend meant.

[Yurtgirl]

Knitting - it is true that ks1 SATs are only testing for level 2 (possibly 3 and hopefully not too many children at level 1)

KS2 SATs are hoping for level 4s with higher achieving kids getting level 5s and some getting level 3s

This is why the current education systems fails so many kids imho - they spend a lot of time trying to bring the lower achieving kids up to average (which is of course a worthy thing) but take very little time to worry about the brighter kids - that has been my experience anyway - HAve a look at the gifted and talented threads to see what a minefield it all is!

HTH

[mrz]

I disagree that "brighter" children are given very little time. It certainly isn't the case in the school I teach in or the school my children attended.

[TrinityRhinoIsInDetention]

dd1 has always been a year ahead
its always on her reports

totally possible

[KnittingHill]

Wow, thanks for all your replies . I will tell mum's friend she has got it wrong somewhere (she teaches reception I think, so is out of the SATS loop maybe ?).

So, is a level 4 a year ahead (yr 4) or yr 6 level then?? Or should I just be pleased dd loves all things to do with words lol! Her report said she was adventurous with her choice of words - I wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing, but I guess it is a positive comment then lol!

I am glad I asked on here. I was getting a bit miffed at what mum's friend had said.

[mrz]

Level 4 (b) is the "expected" level for a child at the end of KS2 (Y6) so your daughter is more than 3 years ahead using national expectation.
Children are expected to achieve 2b in Y2
3b in Y4 and 4b in Y6 (ie 1 level every 2 years - Y3 levels often remain static) although some children will be higher and some lower.
I'm also a reception teacher and I very much doubt your mum's friend is out of the SAT loop.

[alardi]

Could it be that some schools wouldn't bother to assess a Yr3 child above Level 3? Because it's not statuatory, takes up precious time to assess when they could actually be teaching, etc.?
Congrats do your DD, Knittinghill. I think I'd just be happy she didn't have any problems.

[sundew]

It is possible - my dd was level 4b in reading and literacy at the end of this year (she has also just finished year 3). In our school reports we get a table with the levels on (shaded for the expected level) which gives you a good indication of whether your dc is gradually moving up / static or in our case leaping up in literacy. She did have a fab teacher this year that she loved that really pushed her.

It is nice to be a proud mum isn't it

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

Alardi, most schools do assess children at the end of each academic year in order to measure their progress, even if they don't always tell the parents the results. A school that 'didnt bother' to assess Yr 3 pupils above level three would be significantly failing its more able pupils.

[mrz]

School are constantly assessing children over the school year but not all schools use tests at the end of the academic year to assess pupils progress other than in Y2 and Y6. The ongoing teacher assessments give a more accurate picture of a child's ability than single tests at the end of the year.

[LadyGlencoraPalliser]

Agree MrsZ, but the point is whatever method is used schools need to be able to accurately assess pupil progress between Yr 2 and Yr 6 and while it is absolutely true that the 'average' level at the end of Year 6 is level 4b, up to half of the cohort in many schools will be achieving level 5 in at least one subject. Level 4c at the end of Year Three is excellent, but not that unusual for a more able child.

[KnittingHill]

Thanks again for all your views. Hope I didn't start an argument! I am glad to know what it means though and will tell mum to tell her friend it is right what her teacher said. And yes, I am proud of dd .