School don't want to let us know NC levels.

[temporary]

My dd is in yr 4, and has parents evening this week. I want to find out the results of her optional SATS but apparently the school don't like to tell parents.
I really want to know as I am worried about her literacy, but I am expecting some kind of tussle (verbal not physical!). I have spoken to the teacher previously who has told me there is nothing to worry about, but it all felt too vague and non-reassuring and I want to see it quantified to know where she is.

Has anyone else met with resistance on this? What do I do if she says out and out no??

Maybe I'm worrying too much, but I find these kind of situations are worth mentally over preparing.

There are quite a few resources especially over on TES Primary. Would it be worth you downloading some of the resources and testing your daughter yourself? (It might be quicker than trying to persuade the school to give you info it doesn't want to give you.) I thought parents were entitled to that sort of information. But you might have to go through a complaints procedure in order to get access to it. Doing your own literacy testing might be easier.

I thought you would be entitled to a bit more info than a 'nothing to worry about'. Do you get a written report this term, might thre be more info in that?

If she says no, just book an appointment with the Head.

and perfect your reading upside down technique

The test results should be used to inform the teacher assessment so knowing that on its own may not give you an accurate picture.

I've worked in schools where levels are withheld and others where they were given out regularly. personally I think parents need to know so they don't get the wrong impression of their child's ability or lack there of. I'm honestly not sure if you have a legal right to know. a Ask the teacher again, then ask the head. If no joy then make a complaint or possibly a freedom of information request?

I don't think you necessarily want results of optional SATs (as one test might not reflect general standard of work).

I guess if teacher won't give you a NC level (which she is not obliged to do, I don't think) you can always ask if she is at, behind or ahead of expected standard for her age? And go from there?

If the school holds recorded data on your child you are entitled to know what it is. Since the teacher is unlikely to hold all the levels for every child in his or her head and therefore records it somewhere then they have to tell you.

IME if the school do not want you to have NC levels there is a reason they are not disclosing them! This is treating you like YOU are in Y4!

Ofsted usually like to see that the children (and their parents) know what their targets are. From this you should be able to get some idea of NC levels. However, you do have a right to see your child's educational record. First of all, I would make an informal request in writing. They should then respond in writing and they really cannot say no. If this does not produce the desired result there are two pieces of legislation that support you. One is the Data Protection Act and you will find information on the ico.org.uk website. The school should have a policy on data protection and it may mention looking at the school record on here. If you have to go this far you need to write to the Chair of the Governors.

It is also worth trying to work out where your child is yourself by using one the many tests available as learnandsay indicated (although levelling writing is very subjective). That way you can 'sense check' what the school is saying.

You have a right to access any data held on your child (whether you are a biological or adoptive parent or carer). Optional SATs scores falls under the heading 'educaitonal data' held by the school on your child. The school therefore cannot refuse you your right to learn about your child's data, but do have the right to not disclose other data which may be identifiable to other children in the class/ school.

More info here: www.ico.org.uk/for_the_public/topic_specific_guides/schools/pupils_info

HTH

I'd approach it with a 'i'm concerned about literacy and would like to support. Dd said she had done a test, could i borrow a copy of it to go through with her and help her to work out the types of questions we could work on'....
I regularly give out papers to parents - sometimes because the child needs follow up, sometimes to help ease parental anxiety. Mind you i'd discuss test scores and class performance too without getting shirty...

ha ha curlew had to laugh when I read your strikeout! I have found out more info from meetings with the headteacher from doing just that! the scruffy writing hinders me a bit though.

OP I'd download and test yourself. It would save you time, money, aggro and you would see for yourself if there was any difficulties and in what areas.

I had a similar problem 4 years ago where I was certain my son was not making progress and the school kept saying he was fine. Eventually at the end of year 5 I put my foot down and asked under the "Freedom of Information Act" and was told they could not print them out and I must not tell anyone I was being given them - and was handed a Post-it note!!
To my "non" surprise he had flat-lined for 3 years yet the school had been in complete denial, needless to say a very interesting meeting followed.... Luckily at the start of year 6 we moved from the area - leaving with 3C's despite 2a's in his yr 2 sat's. He has made rapid progress and is now at the end of year 9 with all level 6's & 7's and in the top set for science and looking forward by his own choice to a very academic selection of GCSE's.
Interestingly our new school was more than happy to tell us his levels - they had nothing to hide!

I will add at the time I was the schools part-time librarian but also trained as a secondary teacher so I did have a gut instinct things were not right and asked for an EdPsych assessment, which they did but then ignored 2 pages of recommendations.

Correct me if I'm wrong, btu I thought Ofsted were really keen on the idea of children knowing what level they are working on and what they need to do to progress to the next level.

I can't see why any school would want to keep levels from parents if asked.

Maybe I'm just confusing this with secondary, but our head has warned us that all students should know exactly what levels they are working at if asked.........or else.......

@Aryaunderfoot At our new school they are always told what they are working at / towards with individual targets often for a piece of work, this is yr 5/6 at a middle school where she even knows her targets in PE!

I suspect their old school was hiding them as so many children were not making expected progress and did not want parents complaining which might trigger an Ofsted. Their last inspection was "satisfactory" nearly four years ago and at the time were criticised over expected progress. On the new inspection regime if they have not changed dramatically they'll be in trouble, we are not there any more so do not know.

I have to say I've never known Ofsted to ask children their levels. Targets yes, levels no. I am in primary though so it may be different.

I personally see no point in children knowing their levels. All they should know about is what their targets are so they can move ahead. I appreciate parents will probably tell their children but levels should not be the focus for a child.

But in case of dds old school.

ofsted picked up on attainment betwene year 2 and year 6 sats so school could not hide it from ofsted by not telling parents.

1st I head about nc levels was year 1 last day of term.

I had no idea if dds levels were good or bad.

looked on school website said were bad.

asked teacher and they said shes fine where she needs to be 1 level behind so year 2 had to make 3sub levels progress to get from 1b to 2b by end of year 2 so after just 1term year 2 we moved schools.

But i would say the kids were very much aware of reading levels and had targets for maths and literacy and top table bottom table so wouldent have been much surprise to kids I guess.

I later heard juior parents at old school that in year 4 they scoring exactly same nc score as end of year 2 so made no progress and they were fuming.

The governers also discussed attainement.

I dont see with sats how a school can hide nc levels.

what i did hate is competative pushy mums comparing levels.

I like at Curlew's advice to perfect the technique of reading upside down! That's why my notes for parents consultations are hand written in tiny scrawl with cryptic abbreviations.

I work in a school where we do not routinely give out levels. Reports do say Above/At/Below Expected Level though.

At our school the teachers seem to hate giving out test scores too - maybe because it's a private school and they dread having loads of pushy parents marching in demanding to know why their little darlings aren't doing better! That said, after the exams this term I made a private appt with each teacher to discuss the exam results and they gave me the Sat levels then. I feel quite strongly that parents should have a right to know how well - or not - their kids are doing.

My DD1's English teacher did say that children often didn't progress evenly, and this can worry parents unnecessarily. It's apparently quite normal though for kids to make little progress one year and then a huge bound forward the next - and I think this was true for my DD. She's come on a lot more in Yr4 than in Yr 3.