Year 1 Standardised Tests

[Millie1]

Can anyone please explain these to me? Am talking Year 1 (4-5 year olds). I understand there are two tests - a baseline test completed early(ish) in the school year and then a maths (?)-based test completed in May? I think, in relation to the May test, the national average score is 100 but cannot find any information on what the upper score possible is. DS's teacher said it's age related and didn't give me a number. Is anyone in the know? Thanks!

Is this any help?

for a start year 1 is aged 5 - 6 no? Reception has 4 year olds (in England only)

the baseline test is so that they can judge the child's abilities and start them off in the right reading, writing and numeracy groups .. this is important for the child and not significant in any other way .. in most classes these groupings are fluid

don't know about the maths test

Why are you bothering? Tests (for 4-5 years olds!!!) are only to reassure mummy that ds/dd is brainier than everyone else. Doesn't work like that. The tests are only for the gov. to announce great new 'incentives' - they are not for the teachers or even for parents. Britains kids are the most tested of any inthe world and they should be just enjoying childhood - god knows they'll have enough problems later in schoollife.

Thanks AttillaTheMum - that helps explain it.

Twiglett - we're in N. Ireland so I guess our Year 1 is equivalent to your Reception.

Lorca ... why am I bothering? I'm interested, that's all. He didn't even know he was doing a 'test' so there was no pressure on him. At that age, I don't think one can take too much from it ... his class teacher knows each child's abilities and has done so since she didn't her own assessments (not tests!) of them when they started with her - and that's what is important. And I certainly don't see myself as a Mummy looking for reassurance that my child is brainier than his peers. But I am proud that I have a nice little boy who's enjoying school and life as a whole.

100 would be the standardaized score if they were average for their age so above 100 would be above average and below 100 is below average. It depends which test it is as to higher and lower scores. They are all a bit different. Do you have you DC score there?

whoops didn't see the link to NFER - thought it must be that one....

Only saying...in much of europe the kids don't even start school until age 7 and they are really not that far behind ours one year later. We really set too much store by ritualised teaching and tests.

I had older children in the english state system before tests and NC and without these "controls" the kids were leaving primary school without knowing how to read and write and add up and the teachers weren't over fussed, open evenings were very vague and there were no annual reports.
This is the twenty something generation who now rely on spellcheck and grammar check on the computer and get out the calculator for everything

dd had a baseline assessment at beginning of Reception then the Foundation Stage Goals Assessment last summer. Now Year 1 (but still 5) she is this week sitting "quizzes" for progress assessment which I suspect are part of the NFER system. The results are weighted according to age I think (certainly true of those done later in the school). tbh as long as dd is peforming to the best of her ability (she's one of the youngest but probably average) and is happy, the rest is less relevant.

Thanks all for your comments ... it's good to have an understanding of the system!