Yr 2 SATs

[lovecheese]

Just wondering how "formal" KS1 SATs are these days. When DD1 took them, the speaking & listening and science elements were teacher assessed, and the reading, writing and maths externally set and marked. Is it still the case now? DD2 is only in Yr1 and despite being labelled as "high ability" lacks confidence and I worry will crumble under the pressure of a formal sit down, booklets open, you may start kind of scenario and I want to do all I can to help her confidence if the tests still follow this approach. Anyone know? thanks.

Well as far as I'm aware (my DD2 in Year 2 so 'imminent') - there's no science now - and (I think) not in Year 6 either. And it seems to be more teacher assessed in Year 2 than when my DD1 took them four years ago. Frankly I think SATs are an anxiety inducing waste of time (see other thread) - if your DD has been labelled 'high ability' by a competent teacher who has observed her over time and not just on a few papers then I'm sure that she will do fine throughout school. But I do think, to answer your question, that they are a bit less formal than they were.

lovecheese KS1 have always been internally marked but they should now be much less formal and are just one very small part of the assessments your daughter's teacher will make over the year.

Thankyou; And who knows, if we have a change of Government soon, things might be completely different in 12 months time. I am pleased to read, mrz, that the tests are only a small part in an on-going assessment; that has got to give a truer picture of a childs abilities.

From the TES analysis of the manefestos

ASSESSMENT

LABOUR
Have stood by key stage 2 tests despite pressure from unions the NAHT and the NUT. However, Schools Secretary Ed Balls gave his biggest hint yet late last year that he would consider dropping the tests in favour of teacher assessment after 2011. Committed to GCSEs and Diplomas, despite low uptake, and introduced the ?A*? A-level.

CONSERVATIVES
The Tories will retain key stage 2 assessments and have even flirted with the unconventional idea of children sitting the tests in Year 7. The party will reform league tables, abolishing the equivalence of vocational subjects with traditional qualifications in league tables. It will also reform A-levels, increase ?rigour? in GCSEs, and overhaul Diplomas.

LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
The Lib Dems have also pledged to overhaul the system so assessments focus on pupils? needs rather than on school accountability. Key stage 2 tests would be dramatically pared back, assessing English and maths only.

That's interesting - I thought KS2 science had already been dropped, ie not just in the Lib Dem manifesto, but have just asked DD1 (in Yr 6) and she says she's 'not sure' .

Never mind, she's making nice chocolate biscuits now

I thought that some schools were going to have science assessed but not all and at this time all children were being prepared as if they were. This is KS2 SATS. That maybe an urban myth though?!

Key stage 2 test dates
English reading test Monday 10 May 2010
English writing tests and spelling test Tuesday 11 May 2010
Mental mathematics test and mathematics Test A Wednesday 12 May 2010
Mathematics Test B Thursday 13 May 2010
Science sampling tests Friday 14 May 2010

Science sampling in 2010
■■ Following the recommendation of the Expert
Group on Assessment, whole cohort testing of
key stage 2 science has been discontinued from
2010. National standards in science will now be
monitored using a sample of schools.
■■ A national sample of approximately 750 schools
has been selected to participate in science
sampling in 2010.
■■ The science sampling tests will be held on
Friday 14 May 2010.
■■ All pupils at participating schools who have
completed the key stage 2 science programme of
study, and who are working at level 3 or above, will
take the tests.
■■ Trained external markers will mark the test scripts.
■■ Outcomes of the science sampling tests will
not be used for school or local authority level
accountability purposes.
■■ Individual pupils will not receive test outcomes.
■■ Marked science test scripts will not be returned
to schools.
■■ Feedback on the science sampling tests will be
provided to individual schools on their whole
school performance by attainment target in
September 2010.
■■ The Department for Children, Schools and
Families (DCSF) will report the outcomes of
science sampling tests (the overall proportion of
pupils who attained level 4 or above) at a national
level only.
■■ Schools will report to parents on pupil attainment
in science using teacher assessment.