Secondary end of year test. End of year targets set by the schools how many students reach them?

Take it all with a pinch of salt!

Firstly, SATs don't have sub-levels. So even if everything's above board, we routinely get 'Level 5' students in y7 who are actually at the top of level 4 - so we'd probably give average marks of 4A, but in their KS2 SATs the best-fit may have been Level 5.

Also, teachers are expected to show progression - or we don't get payrises.

So - if X has a KS2 result of 5, but I think he's probably working at a 4A, the self-serving thing for me to do is to mark him as a 4C or B on his 'progress review' in September. Then come the exams, he's probably genuinely about a 5B or 5A - but if his performance is borderline enough for me to justify saying he's now (wow!) a level 6...then it's going to look great on my performance review.

I'm not saying I consciously cook the books (but I know teachers who do). Just that you can expect start of year to be rounded down & end of year rounded up...

My dd has gone up 2 or 3 sublevels in most subjects in her first year at secondary - and so have all her friends - I thought this was normal. In maths she's gone from 4a to 6c - that's 4 sublevels - English 5 to 6a. And she is by no means the sharpest knife in the box. Should I be more impressed with both her and her school?!

at ds1s boys grammar the boys are told they can get to two sublevels in a year.

KS1 - expected to achieve 2b. Highest they can achieve is level 3, which doesn't have gradings at KS1. So 2a or 3 is above average at end of KS1.

KS2 - I think they say 4b (though we haven't reached there yet).

Glad your dd got sorted out. Something a friend who taught said was that you could just about disregard the KS2 levels the children arrived with, as some would have been 'taught' to the syllabus, and wouldn't actually 'be' that level iyswim, especially after the summer break. Others might not have achieved well, because of illness, or because their school didn't go in for lots of revision for SATS or whatever, but actually their subject knowledge and understanding was better than someone's with a higher KS2 result.

My brother is doing a lot of research into education atm, for his phd, and he has found some interesting things about KS levels - for example, he said to do a proper comparison you should only look at KS2 and KS4 levels, as some schools will artificially hold the kids back at KS1 and KS3 so that they have added 'more value' when it comes to the dreaded league tables.

I think it can be a level 6, but the majority are meant to be level 5 ish

So a kid coming through at ks2 on a 4c, may would probably reach a 5 (probably)
A 4b would be a 5
A 4a could be a 6, but as a rule of thumb for predicting GCSE grades from Sat scores, I work:
End ks3 5 would project a c at GCSE
6 """"""""""""""" b """"""
7 """"""""""""""" a """"""
8 """""""""""""""a* """""""

It's not quite as clear cut as that, eg a 5 can also indicate a D, they are sort of split down the middle. As are end of KS3 marks. Most are expected gain a 5, but some a 6, so I suppose the average for end KS3 would be a 5a

Yes, I think it is 18 months for 2 sub levels in KS3

But if most children get a level 4 in Year 6, does that mean they only progress one sub level a year in 7, 8 and 9? Or am I missing something?

Well I don't know about KS1 as I don't teach it so it may well be level 3

However I do know about ks2 as they come to us with 4 and 5.

And I know about ks3 as I teach it Level 5 isn't really that low. If it is reached in English Maths and Science, it indicates that the child can gain 5 GCSE a-c.
It seems low to me, as most of our kids are 6/7/8 with very few 5's. BUT across the whole country it is where the government expect ks3 to be. Try and take it out of context of your dc's school and apply it across the whole country.........

Bloody hell - is is really only level 5 at the end of year 9? I thought it was 6! I can't tell you how depressing I find that!

Thanks fizzbuzz, It's 2 for end of ks1, so increases 2 level in ks2 and I assumed it went up another 2 levels at ks3, but I suppose there is one less year in ks3 than ks2. Our private school did SATs at junior level, but not senior so I'm not familiar with it at all after year 6.

Five does seem shockingly low though for year 9.

yeah snorkle... He is starting up an ultimate frisbee group!
seriously teacher today said big changes in pipeline for the exceptionally able... Visible changes hooray!!!!!!

Oh yes, absolutely sure, It works like this.

End ks1 expected or average level 3
End ks2 """"""""""""""""""""""""" 4
End ks3 """""""""""""""""""""""" 5

It is where students are expected to be at end of Year 9. Some may be higher, some lower, but that is the average standard of attainment across the country. It is a benchmark of who can gain 5 GCSE at C or above.

I know it seems very low. The school I teach in, hardly any kids are a 5 but that is where it is. Remember this is across the whole country including all sink/ low achieving schools.

SNora - glad it's all OK after all.

Piffle - I find all the levels a bit bewildering too (we don't have them), so that 8/ep stuff went right over my head. But has your school sorted out something for your ds to help with his boredom yet?

good news snora for your dd the hard work paying off.

Ds1 is phenomenal at maths. But although high performing grammar and in higher extended class there are several boys on 8a and ds has always had progress grade of 1 above average attainment on target to exceed level...
dunno system is a farking mystery.
oh yes we know about EP grades. He is up for one in English and chemistry and physics. But it requires hauling people over hot coals to award them..
Mind boggles but ds is reasonably happy if not a little bored I guess.
think the grading system is very difficult though..

fizzbuzz are you sure 5 is average for year 9? I thought a fifth of children reached that in year 6; surely more must be there 3 years later even allowing for it being a bit harder at secondary?

Piffle, thre is smething called Exceptoinal Performance but it is very very rare. Level 8 for 3 years is silly. Have you talked to the school? Although they are meant to progess across an entire level in KS3, he could I suppose go from an 8c to an 8a, but did he start Year 7 as an 8 or was that a target grade?

Avergae attainment at end of Year 9 is 5

long way from 7c to 7a teachers reckon?
herbietta your ds doing very well!!!

level 8 only at maths in ds school - grammar
he's been on it for 3 years. Seems a shame really bit of a glass ceiling for lots of kids.

I also think it might be and end of keystage target
ds1 has had his grade moved up when passed a level etc
he is yr9 now highly gifted and target is 7a but it was def 6c in yr7 and he only really moved up higher mid yr 8 though.
so its not fixed in stone plenty of ds class mates are level 6 in yr9 thats average attainment I think?
so if your dd continues to try hard and work well she will make exc progress very quickly at times.
be proud she is avoid girl by sounds of it!

They are meant to be the same!!! But I guess a lag happens when they move schools.

Level 8 is only available in some subjects, although I haven't got a clue why....

You, not yo