Keystage levels and standarised scores

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I wonder if anyone can help me to understand these. Dd aged 8 got standarised score of 119 (I am very happy with this). However she got a keystage level 2. Why if she is so good at literacy would this not be a three?

Also got a level 2 in maths but standarised score of 111 in mental maths but standardised score in using maths is 97?

What does all this mean. I do get that it means she is bright but why mental maths so much better than using maths?

Thanks.

I am confused, a level 2 for an 8 year old is below the level expected. Can you give a little more information about the year group and the test sat, it might help to unravel the problem a little!

I am confused too! Lol!

We are in Northern Ireland she is in year 4. Explanatory notes say level 2 is performing as expected. No idea about the tests except they are standard end of key stage one tests.

Teacher has gone on maternity leave so can't ask.

Year 4 here is the same as year 3 in England.

As regards the Key Stage 1 Assessment, many will probably be confused this year as the system in Northern Ireland changed. Have a read at the various links on:

www.nicurriculum.org.uk/key_stages_1_and_2/assessment/assessing_cross-curricular_skills/index.asp

Did the school give you the leaflet 'Parent's Guide to Assessment'? If yes, have a read at that too. You will then see that unlike previously when Key Stage results were based on tests at end of period, now they also include an element of 'teacher assessment', which opens the process up to a variation in standards, albeit they say that will be overcome by the 'moderation' system they have put in place.

The leaflet also states that because of a focus on skills, the new levels may seem more challenging to children and as such, children this year may receive a level lower than that achieved by say an equally able older sibling might have got in previous years under the old system.

Regarding the standardised scores in Maths and English, do you know if these were NRIT or PiE/PiM?

Oops, forgot to add, or NIla/NIma.

Thankyou Butterfly . I didn't get a parents guide to assessment.

I have no idea what tests the standarised scores are based on.

Do you think I should just be content she is doing well? I am concerned that she has a defiency in a particular area of maths. Would you be concerned enough to make an appointment with the principal?

Actually I have just remembered its NIla / NIma.

NIla/NIna (my mistake previously saying NIma) was introduced in 2012 and there were a number of problems surrounding the initial run of tests - some children even sat the tests twice. The reporting of standardised results from same was delayed.

To be honest, I think you will find so many variations between the different test systems that I would not be overly concerned at this stage. Also, remember that NIla and NIna replaced the previous InCas tests, which were scrapped after a few years of use due to various issues. NIla and NIna have still to 'prove' themselves as better alternatives.

IMHO there are too many different key stage/standardised tests used by schools (which are in addition to class tests) and sometimes children reach saturation point and have an 'off' day, which gives skewed results anyhow.

If you do have concerns though (if her results in class tests are also highlighting a problem in one area of maths for example), ask for a meeting and at that, ask if the school also use NRIT tests and NEFR PiE/PiM tests too. If they do, ask for those results to help give you a wider picture of her achievements and to see if there are areas that need attention.

At the end of the day, come P7, none of the tests will really have any bearing on her post primary education options (unless needed for a special circumstnces appeal), assuming that is you are possibly considering Grammar and that the 'unofficial transfer tests' are still in place by then, as it will be the results in those that matter.

Thanks Butterfly. The teachers comments on the report about her maths were really positive so I think in general she is doing fine. I am pretty sure they do NEFR too. We live very close to one of the top NI comphrensive schools so she will go there. They don't do an entrance test anymore so it goes on P7 standarised tests and class teacher reports but I am older two have gone on that way and are fine.

Thanks again.

Looks like NIla and NIna haven't managed to prove themselves to be better alternatives:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-23027844

And a bit more behind the story:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-22609643

IMHO as with InCas, this too has meant teacher time and education money wasted, and children losing out. Numeracy and Literacy concerns that seem to always be high on education authority agendas might be less of a concern if more traditional methods of teaching both were brought back.