What does eligible mean in sats tables?

[TemperTrapped]

When it says eligible, is that the number of children who were in the year group or is it those that were entered?
My local school is a three form entry school so approx 90 pupils in year 6. Only 61 are stated as being eligible, what does this mean?

The statutory national curriculum tasks and tests must be administered to all eligible
children who are working at level 1 or above in reading, writing and mathematics.

So, does that mean there were possibly 29 children who were working below level 1?

No, it is not really possible - 29 children would be working at Y1 level, which is incredibly unlikely!

It might include EAL children who have been in the school a short time and are therefore not included. ( In yr 6 only children at level 3 and above would usually sit the tests)

Pupils who should be entered for the KS2 tests
All who are in the final year of KS2 and are working at level 3 or above (p23), but all pupils on roll in
their final KS2 year must be registered even if they are working below level 3 and will not take the
tests.
Pupils who should not be entered for the tests include (p25)
? Those working below the levels identified above.
? Those whose level of attainment cannot be established.
? Pupils with profound hearing loss who are unable to access the spelling or mental mathematics
test. (Formal exemption must be applied for)
? Pupils working at the level of the test but unable to access them e.g. physical or sensory disability,
those experiencing trauma or ill health, those who are recent arrivals

Yes, but what does 'recent arrivals' mean. Does it mean coming to England from a country that doesn't speak English in the last 2 years? Or what?

And do you know the school is full? Just because it can take 90 kids, doesn't mean it doesn't only have 61 kids....

Ah, I think Indigobell has it, there must only be 61 in the yeargroup.

29 children is a huge number to be disapplied

Each year a small number of pupils? results may be discounted from
a school?s results prior to the publication of the Achievement and Attainment
Tables. Schools have an opportunity to do this during the annual Tables checking
exercise. Further details about this will be communicated to schools by the DfE.
These will be pupils who have recently arrived from overseas with little or no English.
To be eligible, a pupil must meet all three of the following DfE criteria:
■■ they were admitted to an English school for the first time during the 2009/10 or
2010/11 school year
■■ they arrived from overseas prior to their admission
■■ their first language is not English. Dialects of English such as Patois or Krio will not
be accepted as a language other than English.
A request to have a pupil discounted from the school?s Achievement and Attainment
Tables will affect the results of all pupils taking the tests at a school. If an omission is
granted, it will affect both English and mathematics. Omissions will not be granted for
an individual subject.

It's also a huge number to have recently arrived in the country, all in Y5/Y6!

I'm not suggesting they are all EAL! ( although a local school here has 50% EAL children in yr 4) but there MAY be a combination of factors which together MIGHT give a high disapplication figure ( can you guess I'm clutching at straws

My ds is at the infant school next door, I might ask a few mums on Monday who have older children at the Junior school. They have 3 form entry and 312 on roll but just remembered that they have a hearing impaired unit, would that have any effect? 26 per class so possible that it was a small year last year.
Thinking it through, it's probably ok, just a bit shockin gat a first glance. I only look at results and things as a guide but this stood out a bit for me.
Thanks for the info.

Yes pupils with profound hearing loss would not be included

My dds school has a 3 form entry (so maximum of 90 pupils) but last years Y6 had only 58 pupils (2 classes) as it was a low birth rate year. My dd is in Y6 now and there are 75 pupils.