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Gifted and talented

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Original poster

Can a child achieve higher than level 3 in KS1 SATs?

42 replies

Fuzzymum1 · 24/03/2013 20:23

Are there KS1 SATs tests that can show where a child is if they're working above level three?

6yo DS3 is in year 1 and is currently working at level 3C in reading, as measured in school by a reading comprehension test. When he started school 18 months ago he was able to sound out CVC and occasionally CCVC words so has gone from almost no reading to level 3 in a year and a half so presumably he will be capable of more than two sub- levels in the next 14 months before SATs.

I'm not one for getting hung up on levels especially but I am interested to know where he is if possible. His teacher plans to let him sit this years SATs after the year two children have done them (he's in a mixed Y1/2 class) because she is interested to see what he can do and knows he will enjoy the challenge.

OP posts:

FastLoris · 24/03/2013 21:45

My DD is in Y2 and currently level 3A reading, and at last parent-teacher meeting her teacher said they would probably have her sit a level 4 paper. Also at the primary where I work, they had some Y6 kids sit level 6 SATs papers last year after they'd scored high level 5s in the normal ones for the age.

So yes, it does happen. My understanding is that they do this after the normal round of SATs testing, once they see who got an exceptionally high score in it. Not sure what the requirement is though, or whether it's set by central government or up to the discretion of the school.

neverknowinglyundersold · 25/03/2013 14:15

It's down to the common sense of the school. If your ds is working well above the sats key stage 1 levels (which only go to level 3) they have the option of sitting him on other papers. Be aware though there is a difference between key stage 1 and key stage 2 papers. A level 3 at key stage 1 is not quite the same as a level 3 at key stage 2. This is because emotional maturity is also a factor

bringonyourwreckingball · 25/03/2013 14:29

Dd1 who is 7 and in y2 is doing a level 4 paper. I'm not convinced it's a great idea as it can knock her confidence badly when she finds things hard but the teacher said she wouldn't be challenged by level 3. So the option is there, although dd1's teacher did say they don't usually do it.

Idratherbemuckingout · 25/03/2013 15:47

We are nowadays all so bound up with levels at sats and fulfilling the national curriculum that letting children mature at their own pace and leap ahead if they want to seems almost to be frowned upon whereas getting the masses up the the perceived average is the goal of most schools.
I am old but when I was at school we were streamed and those in the top stream soared ahead and those in the other two streams weren't phased because they were not in the same class and so were not outshone by cleverer classmates.
Sadly the trend nowadays is not to do this and it has the dumbing down affect that this poor mum with a probably very bright child feels slightly embarassed and has to excuse herself to post this question. She should not be. Her child deserves her to fight his corner and make sure that he is not lost to a world of mediocrity and averageness where his excellent reading will be overlooked so other children can be sure to get a level 2 and help the League Table Position of the school.
A crying shame.

Original poster

Fuzzymum1 · 25/03/2013 16:59

I understand that at the different KSs a 3 means different things. I was a primary school governor in the past and remember the school saying that children couldn't show more than a level 3 (or 5 at KS2) but now there are level 6 papers for KS2 I was wondering if there was an equivalent for KS1. I don't think it's a case of him not being allowed to reach his potential - he has an amazing teacher who I couldn't be happier with who has a small group of similarly able children who are being stretched - I volunteer in school with a reading improvement scheme so I am involved in some discussion about children's abilities so I know how his teacher works. For one thing I would hate for her hard work and dedication to not be measurable - I would like her to be able to show how much he has improved under her teaching (he will have her again next year as it's a small school with mixed age classes). We do a lot of reading at home, we try and expose him to lots of opportunities for learning by experience, and take lots of opportunities to turn a basic experience into a learning opportunity. Depending on how he does in the SATs he sits this year I will speak to his teacher about the possibilty of a level 4 paper for reading next year.

OP posts:

Iamnotminterested · 25/03/2013 18:12

DD2 was a level 4 in reading in year 2; at her parents eve in feb (she is now in year 4) we were told she was a 5c and should be 5b by the end of the year. There shouldn't be any limit to a child's ability just because they happen to be in a certain year.

Iamnotminterested · 25/03/2013 18:14

Iamnotminterested · 25/03/2013 18:15

Whoops!

Feenie · 25/03/2013 18:17

KS1 assessment is teacher assessment only which uses a test as a small part of the evidence. There isn't a level 4 test for KS1, but some schools choose to use a KS2 test instead. They don't actually have to use a test at all to assess at level 4 in Y2, however.

Feenie · 25/03/2013 18:19

I understand that at the different KSs a 3 means different things.

No, it doesn't - schools have to assess using whole school assessment procedures, so a level 3 has to mean the same throughout the school (since 2005). It's sometimes an issue in infant only schools who don't moderate with junior schools as they should, but it shouldn't be.

jrabean · 23/07/2013 17:31

Realistically schools should assess year 2 kids beyond level 3.

Many kids will reach level 3 in reception so otherwise there is no sign of progress for two years!

Older kids in particular will be getting level 3 in reception.

anitasmall · 23/07/2013 18:48

Can you, please, advise me how can somebody get 4 at KS1 test. Does it mean that the child's test was 100% or that he did well at the KS1 test and than set another test.

anitasmall · 23/07/2013 18:49

Can you, please, advise me how can somebody get 4 at KS1 test. Does it mean that the child's test was 100% or that he did well at the KS1 test and than set another test.

Sticklebug · 23/07/2013 19:02

My DD sat the L4 english SAT in yr2. She was working at a L3A in yr 1, so they decided to enter her for the L4 in yr2. She still did the KS1 paper, but then did an extra paper for the L4. Her secondary school was a bit sniffy about how the infant school had assessed her, but she got a 4a in her end of year 3 tests - so they have since conceeded that she was a L4 in yr 2!

Iamnotminterested · 24/07/2013 09:06

anita, DD afaik sat the level 3 reading comprehension paper only in year 2 but her teacher assessment was a level 4.

metranilvavin · 24/07/2013 17:05

But regardless of their actual level, a child can only be reported as being at a level 3 maximum by the school.

So some schools see that as the bar, and don't assess higher; other schools do.

Having said that, for reading in particular, a lot of what counts towards the higher levels is actually maturity, not just reading ability, so I don't think that NC levels are a very useful way of measuring advanced readers in particular. For maths, it's more straightforward.

Wafflenose · 24/07/2013 21:16

My DD got a 4a for reading (was originally told it was a 5c, but it wasn't quite) and a 4c for writing As metranilvavin correctly says, her English result was reported as a 3.

simpson · 27/07/2013 09:15

"Many kids will reach level 3 in reception..."

not sure about that one!!

"Older kids particularly will be getting level 3 in reception.."

I would not have thought a reception child is mature enough for a level 3, totally ridiculous!

Periwinkle007 · 29/07/2013 14:54

level 3 in reception????

wearingatinhat · 30/07/2013 19:41

Ds was a level 3 in reception but then he did go into reception as a very advanced reader. By mid yr 3 he tested as a 5b, so it does happen. He does have a very high IQ and is doing well in all his subjects, but in many ways is a totally normal child.

He is very mature for his age (in some ways) and yes there are some things that he would not understand simply due to lack of life experience, so occasionally will miss an inference but he certainly tested as a 5b recently, so he must have the maturity. Who knows how common this is as many schools do not regularly test for these levels (including our own) even when children hit test ceilings.

simpson · 30/07/2013 21:14

Well done to your DS I am not saying it does not happen ever.

DD has just finished reception on a 2A for reading but lacks the maturity/life experience to reach level 3 (as you mentioned).

anitasmall · 30/07/2013 21:38

Well done to your daughter!
However each school should test high achievers not just some.

jrabean · 19/08/2013 23:27

Not ridiculous at all. My son was level 3 in reception. Was happily reading Harry Potter etc but is nothing special at all. Just a typical kid who find school boring except playtime football matches.

Sats levels are set low to cover millions of kids and the focus is on finding kids who are badly behind to give them help. Irrelevant for most kids.

RiversideMum · 21/08/2013 16:41

The school could give a very able child the Y3 test. Y2 and Y3 tests are conducted in a different way.

ffsx2 · 24/08/2013 13:39

That's too bad, jrabean. A shame when kids get nothing out of the social life in school. Or art/history/drama/music/etc. Plenty of non-G+T kids have the same problem, of course.

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