SATs Expectations and Progress

[drsimonlee]

My bright daughter (IQ 140-50) received a 3a for reading, 3b for Maths and a 3C for Science at the end of Year 2. That was a little disappointing, especially the Reading side of things, given she can already cope well with the Lord of the Rings etc. However, I've been told the SATs test involves reading aloud, so she's working on that this year. Nevermind.

She improved from an assessment of 1b in Maths to 3c (5 sub-levels) from Year 1 to Year 2. This was good news. Her Science improved by a similar extent.

I have a meeting with the Head/class teacher next week to discuss expectations and progress (a meeting I initiated) and I wonder what I will ask them to achieve with my daughter this year? If the average child is improving two sub-levels a year on average (from what others say on this site) then is a whole level of progress a reasonable expectation? Obviously more would be desirable and I'm already thinking that 4 sub-levels would be great. It's pretty obvious that children will improve more in the early years so academic progress isn't linear (I understand this a former Uni. lecturer) but I'd still like to see progress commensurate with her general intelligence level.

No the SATs test doesn't involve reading aloud at level 3 it's a comprehension test, the child reads two texts (one fiction and one non fiction) and answers questions - some are multi choice tick the correct answer others require a written response.

Levels were scrapped in 2014 (with the exception of Y2&6 where it was scrapped in 2015) and there is a new curriculum with new expectations so you need to forget about sub levels for measuring progress and focus on curriculum (content) targets rather than numbers.

Such levels don't actually exist anymore, so what you are asking is largely irrelevant if you are so focused on those! And she wouldn't be doing SAT tests in yr 3 anyway even under the old system.

Have a conversation about how the school will be helping support and extend her, by all means. Though with those levels, there will be many in her class at the same level I would imagine (in our primary about 25% of the class) so the school should have no problem.

mrz - where can I find a reliable explanation on line of the new curriculum?

Ok, let's talk new curriculum and expectations. What are they?

Agree with pps. I also wouldn't be too concerned about progress targets as the overall aim within one year, more that she's being stretched/ given appropriate work on a daily basis. One year is too short to be an accurate measurement of progress for primary children in my opinion. I'd also agree most primaries will have at least a few at that level, so I wouldn't be overly worried from what you say that they won't help her progress.

www.risingstars-uk.com/free-stuff/national-curriculum-parents-guide

As others have said levels no longer exist and also there is a considerable "step up" to the new curriculum so Y3 is likely to involve "catching up" on the material that is now in KS1 but your daughter may not have covered and you may find that your daughter actually appears to have done "less well" compared to Y3 targets because she will have had to cover substantially more material.

In case your school is one of the ones that is still using a level type system, I should point out that 2 sublevels progress in a year would be considered good progress. 3 or 4 would be really exceptional.

The new national curriculum will have tests for Yrs 1 and 5 next May apprently. The scores from these tests will be close to or interpretable from the SATs tests last year. I am concerned that the work she has done this week is that covered 12mths ago. Obviously, I want her to be stretched, not bored. She's in a mixed year class (years 2 and 3) so the teacher does have a tricky job. The school furnishes all kids with end of year reports that contain approximate grades so I see no reason why they won't continue to furnish these grades (according to the new curriculum and progress guidelines). If the kids are progressing academically, this will be shown in grades as an indicator. I'd like to see some progress and if I'm honest, with her trend, I'd like to see at least 4b or NNC equivalent.

@redskybynight -

Yes, we've covered much work with her that wasn't assessed such as number facts, punctuation and grammar. I believe that work more than makes up for any missed content from the new KS1. For example, she cracked her times tables tests by March of this year. She's pretty much half way through the study guides by Letts/Collins etc, which is intended for 7-11yr olds.

This is why we're keen for her to be given work that builds on what she's already achieved at home.

There will be new tests in Y2 and Y6 in May which will result in a standardised score.

I'm not sure where you are getting your information but it is incorrect.

Why the obsession on her level? Surely the point is that she gets appropriate work for her and make progress. Assuming you are in England, she will only just be back to school and the teacher is likely to be doing revision and taking stock! Please give them a chance!

Year 2 and year 6 will have news tests in 2016. If you google them there are example papers on the Internet. These are not be used for assessment purposes however but will give you an idea for the end of year 6.

The amount of progress expected in ks2 is less than ks1

*new tests

The levels to which you are referring relate to the old curriculum and the concept of levels no longer exists.

I'm already thinking that 4 sub-levels would be great.

err, why exactly? what would be great about it? I can't think of anything remotely great about that - quite the reverse, I would think it was horrendous, and would have very serious concerns about your poor DD

I'd like to see some progress and if I'm honest, with her trend, I'd like to see at least 4b or NNC equivalent.

err, why? exactly?

sorry to be blunt, but you sound bonkers.

She's in the top 25%, that's nice, but what about friendships, social growth, down time, hobbies, breadth of understanding, experiences, play, fun, life?

Don't you want her to have any of those things?

I had a really good method for measuring whether dd was working at a suitable level at school. I just asked her what she'd done that day, and if she told me it was mainly interesting and better still a bit difficult I was quite happy she was being stretched. Something that happened with all but one short lived teacher who wasn't exactly good for most kids, and the odd supply teacher. Worked for us just fine. What level really didn't bother me.
I'm all in favour of stretching all children, but I do agree it's too early in the year to either worry, or complain.

She has TKD, pony riding, lots of friends, swimming in the pool and sea. She loves her parents and friends; she's got a brilliant life! But she's a natural so why not expect great academic progress, given her IQ!

There's no point being concerned about levels/progress/grades in Year 6, it's too late then, the best places at the best schools are gone. For her intended Secondary, she'll have to complete tough entrance tests; and they only take the best, not those who simply pass. Those tests are a mere 4yrs away......

This has got to be a wind up.

Sorry OP but you sound like a prime example of 'pushy parent' to me. and I went to one of those 'schools' that you want to send your DD to as did my DH who thinks the same as I do from your OP and posts

She loves her parents

As do most children of her age

I don't know why but I have found your post utterly depressing. Poor kid.

I really hope this is a wind up.

I don't think you can be real. You sound too mad.

.....actually make that post(s)...plural