Why does my child take tests in Key Stage 2?
The tests intend to:
- Help measure the progress your child has made and identify if they need additional support in a certain area
- Assess our school’s performance and to produce national performance data.
What is the system for primary school test results?
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Since 2016, SATs results have been reported using scaled scores.
What is a scaled score?
Each child is given a scaled score as a number. This is based on their raw score – the number of marks they receive in a test.
Children may achieve a score of:
- Below 100, meaning they have not met the ‘expected standard’
- 100, meaning they have reached the ‘expected standard’
- Above 100, meaning they have exceeded the ‘expected standard’
For children in year 6 taking the KS2 tests, scores range from 80 to 120.
A child who reaches the expected standard (100 or above) is considered to be ready for the next stage of their education.
Why use scaled scores?
Scaled scores help test results to be reported consistently from one year to the next.
For example, if 2 children achieve the same scaled scores in different tests in different years, they will have the same level of attainment.
How will results be reported in year 6?
Most children in year 6 will have taken tests in maths, reading, and grammar, punctuation and spelling.
Should I be worried if my child doesn’t meet the expected standard?
There’s no reason to worry. The tests are designed to help identify where children may need extra support as early as possible.
Your child will also receive teacher assessment results, which help to give a broader picture of how well they are doing.
Were the tests easier this year because of the pandemic?
No, the tests returned this year without any adaptations – using the same, consistent approach as in 2019 means it will be easier for the DfE to identify the impact of the pandemic.
Can we compare the results with previous years?
The DfE “strongly discourages” directly comparing data from this year to previous years. This is because of the uneven impact of the pandemic on pupils and schools, meaning data will likely look quite different this year to previous years.
Contact the school
If you have any questions about changes to KS2 assessments and what they mean for your child, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Further information
You might find the following sources helpful:
- Scaled scores at KS2, GOV.UK – STA
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/scaled-scores-at-key-stage-2 - Key Stage 1 and 2 national curriculum tests: information for parents, GOV.UK – STA https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/2017-national-curriculum-tests-for-key-stages-1-and-2-information-for-parents
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Include your school’s contact details here.
If you have any concerns, please speak to your child’s teacher.
Your child’s end-of-year report will include their scaled score and clear confirmation as to whether they have met the national standard.
