SATS – What are they?

National Curriculum Tests (SATs) are taken in May by pupils during their final year in Key Stage 2. They provide a snapshot of your child’s progress at that moment in time. They cannot be “passed” or “failed”, but simply provide an indication of your child’s attainment.

What changes to the Assessment System have been made over recent years?

There have been a number of changes to the SAT tests over recent years due to the new curriculum that all pupils in primary school now study. These tests in English and maths are to assess attainment in the new National Curriculum and are more rigorous than under the previous system. In addition, a new system of reporting the results of the tests replaced the previous system of reporting national curriculum levels. Instead of gaining a level such as level 3, 4 or 5 as was the case in previous years, children are awarded a scaled score based on the raw score they achieve in the tests. A scaled score of 100 would mean your child’s attainment is at the expected standard for the end of Key Stage 2. However, the raw score needed to achieve this varies between subjects and between years; it will not be decided by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) until after the tests have been taken and marked.

SATs Results – Information for Parents

The government has decided that the expected standard for the end of Key Stage 2 under this new system should be more demanding than under the previous system. Consequently there may be some children who do not score highly enough to reach the new expected standard that under the previous system of levels would have achieved a Level 4.

What is Tested?

Each year, your child will be involved in a reading comprehension test, maths test and the grammar, punctuation and spelling test. Science is no longer tested at the end of KS2; however a small percentage of schools will have to undertake a sampling test.

In line with the Government commissioned report into testing in schools, children no longer sit a writing “test” in year 6. Instead Teacher Assessment is used to assess writing, and this is based on evidence from day-to-day work throughout the year. Writing is externally moderated to ensure accuracy of assessments.

There are three main possible outcomes as a result of this assessment:

-‘Working towards the expected standard.’

-‘Working at the expected standard.’

-‘Working at greater depth within the expected standard.’

Teacher Assessment

As well as their SATs results, you will be informed of your child’s attainment based upon the on-going teacher assessments and tests undertaken throughout the year. This information will be provided to parents before the end of the summer term. (From summer 2018)

Please access information about our school's performance from the information below.