Mastery in reading comprehension. What, if anything, comes next?

[CliveCussler]

So dd (yr 6) just came home with her report which shows mastery as the level for reading comprehension.

We have parents evening next week so I'm just wondering what I should be asking or expecting to hear.

I'd be grateful for any advice.

I'm not sure what they mean by mastery- is this a new assessment framework that they are using?

The first thing I'd ask is what they mean! Then what her next steps are, what should she be working on, and (as she will be assessed on the old NC levels) how they are expecting her to do in the SATs. Do you know if they'll be entering her for level 6?

Quite! Year 6 should continue to be assessed on the old levels this year as that is how they will be tested in May. Using the "new" assessment framework just complicates matters!
However, assuming the "mastery" refers to completely confident ahievement of the new end of year expectations in reading for year 6, she should move onto the year 7 age expectations. Unlike maths, there is an expectation that children who master one year's objectives will move onto the next

thanks very much for your replies. I was expecting them to continue with the old levels, so a little confused by this.

As far as we are aware, there are no plans to put any children in for any level 6 SATS, but I can check that's the case at parents evening.

I'm more wondering what she can expect in the way of extension etc. I know there are booster groups for maths, but not for reading and she has been bored for some time in guided reading and has out-read the school library some time ago.

Do you know what kind of activities/lessons they should provide to challenge and extend her ability, and how would they be likely to manage this in the classroom?

I have no idea what "mastery" means (so that's the first question to ask!)

For what it's worth, DD1 (now in year 8) was noted by her teachers as particularly good at reading comprehension in year 6. We were told that she was way ahead of others in her year. Nevertheless, she found the process of preparing for the Level 6 test challenging and interesting, so if that is on offer, it's a good option.

Found out today that there are 5 children working towards the level 6 maths SATs test, but no one aiming for reading comprehension.

I'm not bothered what level test she sits, but I think she certainly could be doing some of the level 6 work.

Thanks all for your replies. I think I have my questions ready for parents eve.

Clive:

according to OFSTED schools are also required to extend able (even G&T) pupils - so if the school has reported she's mastered the entirety of the primary syllabus in English then the onus is upon them to provide materials suitable for 'the next step' - and given primaries can now teach into NC L6 I find it difficult to believe your DD has exceeded this (after all it's upper end of average ability end KS4). It's possible of couse but extremely rare.

So I think I would ask the school to clarify what they're putting in place (programme of work) specific to your child for English.

I found this stage exasperrating at our primary because staff did not want to engage with NC L5/6 materials - indeed most of the year they were going on one day courses to train to teach Nc L5/6 material (as a school the policy was L4 and no further & they relied on a significant proportion of each year going the 11+ route (grammars are free in Birmingham) - so recent changes in SATs/ league table stats rather caught them ill prepared).

My advice is push - if not for your child - for future pupils at the school also of high ability who don't deserve to be treading water for months on end during Y6.

This is the final year of level 6 papers, however.

Feenie:

Hadn't realised changes were coming - but yes having checked it yes from 2016 everyone will sit the same papers. (e.g. michaelt1979.wordpress.com/2014/03/31/new-ks2-tests-from-2016/

The point I'm making is Clive's school is apparently not teaching into old style Nc L6, which it should, and regardless of what it will be termed under new testing regime my understanding is the new test would encompass this ability level as well (although small proportion of overall paper).

Clive says the school is not putting anyone forward for L6 English paper - so right now that's a shame - but long term with government driving standards upwards - not a good strategy for their pupils. But then with half of pupils in England achieving NC L5 in English it seems reasonable to offer curriculum at primary into NC L6 (all old money NC Levels because I don't really get what the replacements are yet - and 4 descriptors says not a lot to me just now).

If Feenie you're saying the new testing system from 2016 won't be assessing at the equivalent of old NC Level 6 - that is deeply unfortunate.

I don't disagree with any of that, PSBD, you're right.

There won't be a level 6 (or any level) test in 2016 but that doesn't mean there won't be high expectations in the Year 6 curriculum (some content was previously in Key Stage 3)

Feenie have you seen Performance Descriptors for reading mastery level?

No, only mastery at KS1. I would expect them to sound like level 6 though?

Thanks thought I'd missed something ??

So did I when I read your post!

I just wondered how the OPs school had measured mastery

Interesting. I wonder if they used the Year 7 curriculum or are matching mastery to level 5? Strange.

PSBD Having read through the curriculum today after a bit of googling, I think they are matching Mastery to level 5, but will ask.

You make a really good point about pushing for future pupils. Particularly as I have ds in year 4 who is doing very well in reading comprehension also despite only ever reading the Beano

We are also in an free Grammar Area, so maybe our school was similarly caught out.

They also be caught out again if they are really matching mastery to the old level 5!

*will be caught out

The usual, helpful autocorrect there.

An update following parents evening.

Level 6 work is being woven into the lessons, she will sit level 6 sats in Reading and Grammar and is in an extension group for reading comprehension.

So it's all good. thanks all for your advice.

They did explain that the SATs reading test is a comprehension test didn't they?

They did Mrz.

What do I need to know?

I just wondered if they had made it clear as you seemed to be separating the level 6 reading and the comprehension extension.

God it's complicated isn't it.

I think I'm right in saying that she's sitting the level 6 paper(s) in Reading comprehension and Grammar, and is also in a reading comprehension (but not guided reading) extension group.

Regardless of terminology (theirs or mine), I think they're doing all the right things for her. I felt reassured anyway, as did dh.

That's the important thing