KS1 Level 3 Sats

[wigglywoowoo]

We have had DD's SATS results and she has done better than I was expecting. Previously we have been given sublevels but this is just a 3 Does this mean that she is working at a minimum 3b or could it be a 3c? We've also had some SATS test results reported but not all. Any idea why they would not report all results? Dd told me when she did the test during sats week.
Our school are keeping the NC levels next year so it is relelvant for future assessment.

It's probably just part of it

I'm sure they come into school as well as that would make sense

They're taken in May

If the LA can't insist, then it must be the school's choice.

"Yes, they're all taken in May" - so the LA are overriding what is written in Assessment and Reporting Arrangements

Interesting.

Look, see it's not just my weirdness here

English and maths papers completed by pupils at the age of seven (Key Stage 1, Year 2) are marked by the class teacher. Some papers may be sent to the local education authority (LEA) to be moderated to make sure marking is consistent. Science is teacher-assessed only.

www.theschoolrun.com/understanding-sats-results

I'm sure it is just part of it. It just seems like a massive waste of money for a test that has very little importance. Nothing is going to change or be incorrect if the test is incorrectly marked.

It probably is the schools choice. They can be taken anywhere between September and May. It's up to teachers to decide when they think is best to use them.

What a waste of time and money, having LA staff double mark tests that carry limited value in making a level judgement. (Not criticising or blaming you Worra - in case it comes across that way via lack of subtlety in e-communication). Just stating how odd I find it, compared to my experience over the years as a teacher, moderator and LA advisor in a several LAs.

I'm not sure how they are overriding it?

That doc says....

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.
Teachers must not use the content of the tasks and tests to prepare children for the
assessments. This could lead to inaccurate results that do not represent the children’s
unaided abilities.

I'm glad you're not blaming me cos I'm confused enough to be honest

You're right. The tests are just a small part of it.

That's why I'm sure it's just part of the moderation.

I'm going to find out how many schools' tests get spot checked. I wouldn't mind betting it's very few...but the fact schools know it can and does happen, is perhaps what the LA thinks will keep them 'on the ball' so to speak?

The level 2 test storage is also spot checked.

The schools know that at any time, an LA rep can pop in and check they are kept in the sealed packages and stored away under lock and key.

You seemed to imply in one post that the LA insisted the tests were taken in May. That was what I was querying. Is your school / LA that feels it needs lots of control over the teachers for a particular reason?

"The level 2 test storage is also spot checked." - why? They haven't been expected to be kept under lock and key for years, and back then all levels had to be securely stored. The only versions we use are the ones published in 2007 or 2009, so we all know their content (and it is even available online for the teachers to make the decision which years papers to order). Mine were stored in the back of my stock cupboard when they were delivered and in each child's assessment folders on the shelf in my room after completion.

DD's school has SATs in May for Y2 and Y6. Y2 teacher told me that she thought that this was too late but was what the school stipulated.

When moderating I always unpicked whether those schools doing the tests in May were over-reliant on tests to make their judgements and then asked for a lot more classroom evidence to show "consistently work at X level".

I mean Key stage 2, not level 2

I'm sorry if you thought I implied the LA insisted the tests were taken in May. I've read back and can't spot the actual post?

wiggly most schools in this borough take the SATs in May for Y2 and Y6 as well.

When DS was in yr2 (now yr4) his levels were reported as 3Cs.

DD who is currently in yr1 will be capped at a 3A as this is the highest level that can be reported to the LEA (will have a meeting nearer the time to see if the same level has to be reported to me).

I would be unhappy if i had been informed that DD had been capped but luckily will not be in that position.

Are they capping her this year too, so that they can show progression next year?

Not got DD's report yet (Monday) but her end of year targets are:

Reading - 3B
Literacy - 2A/3C (will be interested as to which she is on)
Maths - 2C

Having meeting with HT after report comes out (HT suggested it) so will mention the capping thing then.

I was also told that my yr2 DD would be getting 3. No sub levels but the teacher did say it effectively meant 3b.

Having said that, a friend of mine who teaches Yr3 said to not be surprised if they re-assess her when she gets to juniors as a 3 at the end of ks1 was not the same as a ks2 3?

I might be getting that a bit muddled but I think that was the jist!

I mean Key stage 2, not level 2

This whole thread has been about KS1 though!

Your posts on this thread have been riddled with inaccuracies. How much do you really know about what goes on in year 2?

Our LEA does similar Worra. In every school the lowest four L3 writers tasks are sent to LEA plus 2 extra examples of different genres to be externally marked and moderated.

The tests used to inform teacher assessment are marked internally (by the class teacher) and levels reported are level 1 (no sub levels) 2c, b, a and level 3 (no sub levels). Some schools only report level 3 if the child is 3b or 3a (as child will be expected to achieve minimum level 5 in Y6) and report level 3c as 2a (level 4 in Y6) others will report 3c.

In my LEA half of the schools will have a moderation visit each year the other half will take their evidence to a moderation meeting - so every school! That is in addition to internal and cluster moderations.

I'm afraid most of what Worra has posted is inaccurate ... because KS1 can choose to use either the 2007 or 2009 tests or combination (there have been no new ones published since) they don't need to be locked away

IsItFridayYetPlease:

In an ideal world teacher assessments should be reliable. However, teacher's pay is linked to establishing 2 sub-levels (X many APP pts) + per child over the school year.

As parents we can only track the Teacher Assessment at KS2 SATs - but it has been chronically out (by as much as 20% out) for years now. Frequenty predicting 80%-85% will achieve NC L4+ when we get 62% - 67%.

I'm not saying this is every school - but schools in this situation do attract the LEAs attention (if still in state sector) and I know our school informed us that the LEA would be monitoring SATs with the school this year.

actually PSBD teachers' pay isn't linked to establishing 2 sub levels per child over the school year ... mine isn't

Nor is mine, mrz.