Y2 assessments - what exactly do the levels mean?

[tortoiseSHELL]

Ds1 is Y2, so at the end of this year will be having 'SATS' (for want of a better word - he won't know about them, they're mostly teacher assessed with one or two 'assessed pieces of work').

I understand the levels go 1c-1b-1a-2c-2b-2a-3c-3b-3a, and that some subjects (eg science are just 1-2-3). And that anything above 2b is above average.

But, does 2b represent the 'average' mark achieved, or the mark achieved by the 'average' child, or the mark that the Government think a child SHOULD be achieving, or the mark that the Government say an 'average' child SHOULD get?

Confused.

.

I belieeve that it is c)"the mark that the Government think a child SHOULD be achieving"

So is that the mark that a theoretical average child should achieve if they are doing averagely? Rather than an average mark achieved across the country?

I think so. I think they have to meet certain criteria to have achieved each stage. eg in literacy, spelling a reasonable number of words correctly, using capital letters and full stops, using paragraphs, using conjunctions etc.

It's nothing to do with averaging the levels actually achieved. It's just what the government think is a reasonable level of achievement for the average child.

Ok, I see! It's so confusing, when they talk about 'average' - but doesn't explain if they mean this is the average, or what average should be! Thanks for the replies!