What's all this level 1, 2a, 2b 2c stuff on a year 2 report then?

[Caligula]

They've given a key of 1 2 and 3, but within the 2's they've broken it down to 2A, 2B and 2C, but helpfully haven't said whether the scale goes up to A or down from A.

Anyone know? Is it a standard thing?

Sobernow is right. We had it explained the same by DS's teacher. DS is 6.5 and he's 1 at maths & science and 2A at reading & writing.

I hadn't even been aware that they were doing SATs. I thought they'd abolished them?

If they did them, they didn't tell anyone!

2 is the expected level for a child at the end of Y2 with 2c being 'just a 2', 2b being a solid average 2, 2a being slightly ahead of where you'd expect. Level 3 is supposedly where they should be by the end of Y4, so many bright children get level 3s at the end of Y2 - though apparently a level 3 at Y2 isn't really the same as a level 3 at Y4. Confused? I was.

being thick here but singersgirl you said marks for year 2 and a 3 being where they should be for end of year 4 ,where the hell are they in year 3 ,is it just a continuation of year 2 marks .

It is confusing.

Talking about averages, a child could be a 2B in Y2. Most schools like children to progress one or preferably two 'sublevels' each year, so that would make them a 3C in Y3, a 3A in Y4, and a 4B in Y5. This would be very good progress, and would then make them 'above' average in Y6 with 5C.
Most teachers assume that during one year, at some stage, children may only progress one 'sublevel', so progress isn't always that speedy. It really isn't an exact science.

Has that confused you even more?! Sorry if it has.

Ok my DS1 is very weak in numeracy. I have posted on here before and been offered loads of help. He has extra maths tuition once a week and the tutor does say he struggles and even suggested that I may want to get him assessed. So he got level 2a in his maths, where did that come from? The problem is because I know he is weak in this area I can't quite believe the results (although I would love to!!). Can anyone shed any light on this for me. He also got 3 in science which I feel is fab. but is this quite normal for boys. Oh and he did get some 2c's and 2b's in case I am sounding a little big-headed!!
XX

How old is your son, flowertops? They dont do a science test in ks 1. Was it a teacher assessment rather than an actual sat test? Glad he's doing well, though.

Now I'm confused too. DS is in year 1 so shouldn't be doing SATs, so how come I know what levels he's on?

teacher assessed levels

Thanks, Moomin.

So if it's a teacher assessment is this not really SATS. So she could have marked what she liked. I thought all yr 2's had proper SATS. Sorry to sound thick but I don't know the difference between teacher assessment and SATS.
thanks for your help
XX

The leaflet called How is your child doing at school which is at the bottom of this page may be of help.

Direct link to the leaflet

when I were a lass we used to have a grade for attainment A-E then a level of effort 1-5 which at least showed my parents that although I was crap at maths I was actually trying!

Thanks for the link great help!! One thing that worries me is that if a child attains only 2c at key stage 1 level for a subject then it indicates that they will probably not achieve level 4 at aged 11. My DS1 achieved 2c for writing surely he has 3 years to improve. Do you think this means they probably won't achieve level 4 without help or is his future 'set in stone' because of a level 2c at the age of 7 - very worrying!

yes that leaflet is very good, thanks

flowertop, I'm not a teacher but I'm sure writing is one of those things that can improve quite dramatically as fine motor skills improve

foxinsocks thanks for that. Yes I did think the same but it is the way the kids are labelled at this stage i.e. if your child only attains level 2c at this stage then they are highly likely not to attain level 4 at 11. We have been putting so much effort into his maths and now it seems we have to put the same into writing. When they say writing do you think it just means handwriting or spelling too. You know in my DS1 class they are doing a project, which they have been doing for past 6 weeks. I would have liked him to have spellings and numeracy homework but no we have this bloody (sorry!!) project when he can't spell or write well!! Are there any standard spelling lists that we could use to help him. thanks again.
XX

Just to respond to a couple of points, flowertop -the teacher can't give what ever level they like as there are strict criteria that have to be met within each level/ sublevel. It would be very unprofessional to give a misleading level. So relax, your little one really is doing well in science. When a particular piece of work is levelled, it just means that it is marked with certain criteria in mind. It is harder to level work not carried out under 'test conditions'- as with many teacher assessments, as one needs to be sure how much adult input has been given (could the child have achieved the same result totally independently?).

As far as topic work is concerned, a child will improve their literacy skills far more qickly if they are immersed in an interesting topic, which actually motivates them to want to write! My school has recently started a very cross- curricular, topic based approach to literacy, (which is something that many schools stopped doing when the literacy hour was brought in). The impact on standards in my yr 5 class has been increible- in just one term!!! So please, don't be too hasty to judge your son's topic work!

as a matter of interest for you flowertop, these are the recommended spellings for reception, y1 and y2:
Reception year: I go come went up you day was look are the of we this dog me like going big she and they my see on away mum it at play no yes for a dad can he am all is cat get said to in

Years 1 to 2
about after again an another as
back ball be because bed been boy brother but by
call(ed) came can?t could
did do don?t dig door down
first from
girl good got
had half has have help her here him his home house how
if
jump just
last laugh little live(d) love
made make man many may more much must
name new next night not now
off old once one or our out over
people push pull put
ran
saw school seen should sister so some
take than that their them then there these three time too took tree two
us
very
want water way were what when where who will with would
your
Plus:
? days of the week;
? months of the year;
? numbers to twenty;
? common colour words;
? pupil?s name and address;
? name and address of school

Thanks noonar that's really made things clearer, and made me think about the project work. Moomin the spellings are really helpful thanks I am going to work on these as I already know he does not know quite a few of them.

Glad to be of help, ft. As a little aside, have just re read my last post....you'll be reassured to know that I don't teach typing!!!!!!