SATS in year 2

[violetbloom]

Can anyone tell me if 18 out of 30 for a preliminary SATS test in maths is an average score? Dd's class got their marks back on Friday and I haven't a clue what it means.

I don't know. But as year 2 SATs aren't taken til May, I would have thought 18 out of 30 would be fine for December.

I'm a bit worried at the idea of a school doing this - SATS - particularly year 2 SATS are supposed to be a "snapshot" rather than something specifically worked at and revised for. I would have a word with the teacher and find out what's happening.

I find it quite alarming that schools should be doing SAT tests at this stage of the year. Even in Y6 where some schools seem to practise for months they seem to wait until after Christmas

From my experience children are being tutored and practising 'SATS' from a very early stage. Parents want the children in the top sets in year 2 and 3 if they are to have a chance at grammar school etc.

Agree about the insanity of it, but there's another agenda too.
Most teachers have a performance management review where we set targets at the beginning of the year for % of class who will achieve x level in writing, maths etc by the end of the year. Has to be a target with High Expectations, regardless of common sense and cohort.
And if they don't, when the targets are reviewed at the end of the year you get classed as a shit teacher by SMT and it has a knock on effect for the teacher for the next year or two or three. Until you get a cohort that exceeds the targets.
Wrong on so many levels, but Thhaaattt'ss Education Folks

Depends which paper - if it's a level 2 paper it's a 2B, the average target for children at the end of Y2. If it's a level 3 paper then the mark would count as having achieved level 3.

But I would echo seeker's concern - it's extremely poor practice in Y2 both to arrive a teacher assessments based on past papers, and to let children know that they are being tested at all.

The teacher assessment must be arrived at from lots of different sources - the tests (completed once) form a very small part of this evidence.

Building a picture of what children can do is the document which revamped Y2 SATs, and is meant to ensure that there isn't this kind of over-reliance on test data.
But letting the children know they are completing past papers is just bad practice, full stop.

Yes goblinchild, but you don't teach children by constantly testing them, as you know!

I love the proverb ...
" You don't fatten a pig by constantly weighing it"

I agree, but I wish someone or thing could convince management of that.
Or that we teach children rather than turn out manicured and exquisitely identical sausages.

When do they test in year 2 for real? The spring term? Thnks.

Any time between January and June, to help confirm the teacher assessment that will be reported to you.

I'm moving into Y2 after Christmas so will be starting the year with assessments so I know what the children can do

mrz - surely the current teacher will be able to provide that information? Have you been doing APP?

No we don't use APP and I would prefer to make my own judgements rather than rely on the ones left for me in this case.

Ah - I see. I'm reading between the lines!

Yes, I think it's a bit much to be testing them right now too. The teacher is very open about it though, tells the kids, they don't seem stressed about it at all for what it's worth. But I think it's too soon. I had a look at a practise paper online last night and I was actually quite surprised that dd got as many as 18! It is hard for me to make any sense of what the score means though.

ds was sobbing last week - he certainly knew he'd been doing sats - all day

What, tests all day at 6? I hope you were in school first thing the next mroning complaining!