Gainsborough2015 - 2016

SATs Standard Assessment Tests.

A whole school approach

The SATs are a statutory requirement and test the knowledge built up in school over the last four years –

not one year.

Year 6 - The finishing touches

The year 6 curriculum builds upon previous knowledge, skills and

understanding developed throughout the school…

The new expectations.

Proud and Confident

Proud of their hard work and their own achievements.

Pleased with the progress that they have made in their learning during the year.

Able to show that they have listened carefully to the teacher’s advice and followed it.

Show off and give it their all.

Which areas are assessed ?

Science(Sampling & Teacher Assessment)

English and SPaG

Maths

English tests - Reading

Reading is assessed through one test.

The children have 1 hour to read a selection of texts and answer questions based on what they have read.

The questions will be a selection of 1, 2 and 3 mark; retrieval, comprehension, inference, structure and layout.

English tests - SPaG

Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar test - 2 Tests - 15 min spelling test (based around the key words taught throughout

Y3,4,5&6)- 45 min grammar and punctuation

Sentence grammar - both identifying and writing sentences that are grammatically correct

Punctuation - identifying and writing sentences that are correctly punctuated Vocabulary - identifying and writing sentences in which a word is used

correctly Spelling

English tests - Writing

Writing is now teacher assessed using ARE grids and moderated by an outside agency.

Handwriting is assessed from their everyday writing

Maths tests

Paper 1 – Arithmetic 30 minutes

Paper 2 and 3 – Reasoning 40 minutes

Assessment and Reporting

‘Old’ national curriculum levels (e.g. Level 3, 4, 5) have now been abolished, as set out in the government guidelines.

From 2016, test scores will be reported as ‘scaled scores’. This means it is very difficult to compare the assessment of a

previous year with the current year. Your child will still be taught with the highest expectations and

cover all required elements of the curriculum, similar to previous years.

The new curriculum is more rigorous, includes a lot of known facts and sets high expectations which all schools have had to work hard to meet since the beginning of last year.

Scaled Scores

What is meant by ‘scaled scores’? It is planned that 100 will always represent the ‘national standard’. Each pupil’s raw test score will therefore be converted into a score on the

scale, either at, above or below 100. The scale will have a lower end point somewhere below 100 and an upper end

point above 100. A child who achieves the ‘national standard’ (a score of 100 or above) will be

judged to have demonstrated sufficient knowledge in the areas assessed by the tests.

In July 2016 for the first publication of test results, each pupil will receive: A raw score (number of raw marks awarded). A scaled score in each tested subject. Confirmation of whether or not they attained the national standard

Scaled Score Examples

On publication of the test results in July 2016: A child awarded a scaled score of 100 is judged to have

met the ‘national standard’ in the area judged by the test. A child awarded a scaled score of more than 100 is

judged to have exceeded the national standard and demonstrated a higher than expected knowledge of the curriculum for their age.

A child awarded a scaled score of less than 100 is judged to have not yet met the national standard and performed below expectation for their age.

Familiarity with the tests…

What the tests look like - no shocks as they open them.

How the questions are laid out. Familiarity with, and an increasing

understanding of the ‘language of questions.’

How to use the marks at the side of the page to know how much detail is required in an answer.

How and where to do the ‘workings’.

How to pace yourself within the time limit.

How can you help? Support your child with their homework and revision. Keep absences to the absolute minimum. Please try to ensure your child arrives on time ready

for the start of lessons. Early nights! Good breakfast especially during test

week. TLC! Be supportive and encourage your child to do

the best they can. Contact school if you have any concerns.

How to help your child with reading

First and foremost, focus developing an enjoyment and love of reading.

Enjoy stories together – reading stories to your child at KS1 and KS2 is equally as important as listening to your child read.

Read a little at a time but often, rather than rarely but for long periods of time!

Talk about the story before, during and afterwards – discuss the plot, the characters, their feelings and actions, how it makes you feel, predict what will happen and encourage your child to have their own opinions.

Look up definitions of words together – you could use a dictionary, the internet or an app on a phone or tablet.

All reading is valuable – it doesn’t have to be just stories. Reading can involve anything from fiction and non-fiction, poetry, newspapers, magazines, football programmes, TV guides.

How to help your child with writing Practise and learn weekly spelling lists – make it fun! Encourage opportunities for writing such as letters to family or friends,

shopping lists, notes or reminders, stories or poems. Write together – be a good role model for writing. Encourage use of a dictionary to check spelling and a thesaurus to find

synonyms and expand vocabulary. Allow your child to use a computer for word processing, which will allow

for editing and correcting of errors without lots of crossing out. Remember that good readers become good writers! Identify good writing

features when reading (e.g. vocabulary, sentence structure, punctuation). Show your appreciation: praise and encourage, even for small

successes!

How to help your child with maths

Play times tables games. Use MyMaths and Mathletics. Play mental maths games including counting in different amounts,

forwards and backwards. Encourage opportunities for telling the time. Encourage opportunities for counting coins and money; finding amounts

or calculating change when shopping Look for numbers on street signs, car registrations and anywhere else! Look for examples of 2D and 3D shapes around the home. Identify, weigh or measure quantities and amounts in the kitchen or in

recipes. Play games involving numbers or logic, such as dominoes, card games,

darts, draughts or chess.

SATs timetable

A copy of the timetable for the SATs week will be sent home nearer the time, it has not yet officially been released.

They will be week commencing 9th May.

Feel free to have a look at some examples from previous years but please note that

they will look different this year.

If you are interested in taking papers home we will distribute these before the Easter holidays.

Thank you for coming!

If you have any questions please feel free to ask now, or speak to one of us before you leave.