Year 2 Sats, Maths.

[HermioneSnape]

My DS will be doing these tests this year as he's in year 2. DS was given a practice paper just before half term and scored a 2A.

I have printed one off and asked him to do it in the holidays, he completed it in 10 minutes and got everyone right. 30/30.

The school haven't mentioned putting him in for the level 3 paper? When would be reasonable to speak to the school about this? Do all schools have the right to put children in for the higher paper?

We are in Birmingham and my DS attends a state school.

Thanks.

Feenie Tue 25-Feb-14 22:54:16

If she has been teacher assessed as a 3 and has already sat 2 tests then sitting another level 3 test is pointless. And against statutory rules.

Feenie:

All I can say is WELCOME TO BIRMINGHAM LEA. Many schools here have children sit optional SATs in English (SPAG for KS2) & Maths each term.

Standard operating procedure here I fear.

There are statutory rules for KS1 assessment which prohibit the use of more than one test. It's reissued annually and is very clear.

There are no such rules for y3, y4 or y5 - and those optional tests are disappearing next year.

I found the statutory rule in the DfE paper stating that only one test per subject and attainment level can be sat per school year. Feenie, does this apply only to the 2007/09 papers which are currently used for testing purposes, or for all KS1 tests? If so, I agree that DD's school is breaking the statutory rules as all of the pupils have sat either 2 level 2 papers or one each of a level 2 and 3 paper. I believe the papers DD sat were from 2003/04.

Am I missing something or are these earlier tests not just practice tests to get the children used to the format?

From the KS1 Assessment and Reporting Arrangements document 2014 :

6.2 When should the tasks and tests be administered?

The tasks and tests can be administered at any time during the year but children are not to be tested more than once during the year in each subject or attainment target.

6 or 7 year olds don't need to 'get used' to the format - the questions shouldn't be any different from ones they are used to answering in class. In any case, as you can see from the above, it isn't allowed. Testing over and over again shows an over reliance on testing and poor teacher assessment, which the LEA moderators wouldn't allow anyway.

It refers to all KS1 tests, bunnyjo.

If your child is acing the tests at home then you know he's doing well, why do you need the school to validate?

I was never told which DC were put in for which y2 SATs. Some of them sometimes got 3s, so in theory there was something to tell.

DS got L3 in the y2 maths. He is an emotional basket base with lots of social problems (no friends at all). I wish his school had a bigger emphasis on working together. :(

The children really don't need to practice these tests.
Believe me, I've got some pretty airy fairy types in my class and they managed quite well!

LLjkk

DS is ALL about working together, still sitting down on the "mat" so all children do the same work, spellings, sums, etc.

My DS has been told off a few times for messing about at these times, also for putting his hand up, his teacher has asked him to give other children a chance, but after a couple of them getting the answer wrong he will shout out the answer.

He is clearly bored. But the school will not do anything different.

I think by year 2 it isn't unreasonable to start the children off doing different activities suitable for there ability - is it?

I know this does happen for designated Maths and Literacy lessons, but that is it.

I understand that there are people who would prefer more working together, etc, but at the moment it isn't what my son needs, and he doesn't seem to be advancing as far as he could, (in my opinion).

He was a 2B at the end of year 1 in both maths and literacy and is still only a 2A, now, we had parents evening a couple of weeks ago and all his teacher said was and I quote -

"he's doing well, settled in great, is very eager to help around the classroom"

I replied - "how is he getting on his work?"

Teacher - "well, ok, he does mess around and be silly at times, but overall ok"

I asked about the messing around and it was during the "mat" time and sometimes during literacy, is he got "fed up"

That's it, not a mention of his levels, work he's progressing on, any areas he needs help with, and not a single mention of the Sats.

Whereas after talking to other mums, they all got told levels, what paper their DC was doing in the Sats, etc. It does seem as though they aren't in the slightest bit bothered by my DS or the progress he should be making.

Maybe he isn't liked by his teacher?