Year 6 SATS Meeting Wednesday 30 th January 2013

1. Year 6 SATS Meeting Wednesday 30th January 2013 Welcome

2. Why do our children take SATs tests? • Actually they are not called “SATs” (Standard Attainment Tests) • They are the Key Stage 2 National Curriculum Tests • But…everyone calls them SATs • All children in Year 6 take them to assess their skills, knowledge and understanding in maths and English at the end of Key Stage 2

3. What are the results used for? • To assess the progress children have made in their learning since they were 7 • To help secondary schools organise learning in Year 7 • To enable a comparison between schools against a benchmark figure

4. What is my child expected to achieve? • The expected level of attainment in Year 6 is Level 4 of the National Curriculum • Children are “expected” to make a level’s progress every two years, so… • Level 3 is the level expected of a 9 year old • Level 5 is the level expected for a 13 year old • Level 6 is the level expected of a 15 year old

5. Are the SATs really that important? • Yes! Definitely for us • For your children it’s a bigger question…I am lucky enough to know of several children who achieved level 2 and 3 in their SATs who have gone on to university or college and are starting careers… • I know of a few children who achieved level 5, yet found secondary school very difficult

6. Are the SATs really that important? • It’s not the end of the world if you don’t achieve level 4 or 5 • But it can impact on your start at secondary

7. When are the SATs? • The week beginning Monday 13th May 2013

8. What are the changes to the SATs from previous years? • English • Reading Comprehension – no change, 1 paper 45 minutes • Speaking and Listening – no change, teacher assessed • Writing – changed, no “long” and “short” writing tasks externally marked. Instead writing is assessed over a longer period by the learning group teacher

9. What are the changes to the SATs from previous years? • English continued • Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Test – new this year! Your children are the first to ever do this test • Variously known as SPAG, GASP, GAPS etc • 46 questions in 45 minutes

10. What are the changes to the SATs from previous years? • Maths – no changes • Paper A 45 minutes – no calculator • Paper B 45 minutes – calculator allowed • Mental Maths Paper – 20 questions, five 5 second, ten 10 second and five 15 seconds

11. How is the school helping the children prepare? • Revision of key topics/skills through normal daily teaching • Detailed analysis of recent assessments to identify and address individual gaps in knowledge • Use of past papers • Provision of revision books • Access to “SATs Surgery” daily from 8.30am-8.55.

12. What should we do with the revision books? • The children should aim to do 20 to 30 minutes of SATs preparation, 4 or 5 times a week. (In an ideal world invented by Mr Green…) • Some will want to do more, but please discourage “SATs mania” and excessive stress. They work hard at school and do need a break • It’s good preparation for next year.

13. What should we do with the revision books? • Blue and Brown Maths and English Study books are text books that explain concepts and strategies – if your child doesn’t understand something, bring it to SATs Surgery and we will help them • WARNING! Not all the children will use formal short/long multiplication and division. If you don’t understand the method they do use (or they don’t!) please see myself or Mr Trotman • Please return these books after the SATs

14. What should we do with the revision books? • The three, white SATs Buster Reading booklets are to help reading comprehension. They are your child’s to keep • We will not mark them, but will be delighted to discuss issues in SATs Surgery or class time • A good practice is to set a time limit for the reading section • If you have the time, talking through possible answers is more useful than the child working through questions alone and self-checking.

15. Why might some children sit a level 6 paper? • Many years ago…there were optional level 6 papers. Hardly anybody took them, or achieved level 6 • They quietly disappeared until… • Mr Gove re-introduced them last year • We are not sure of their value, neither are some secondary teachers • However, in the last few years 75-85% of our children achieved level 5 in reading so…

16. Why might some children sit a level 6 paper? • We will enter some children who are achieving confidently and consistently at the higher end of level 5 • They still have to take the level 3-5 papers • The level 6 papers are on the same days, but in the afternoons • It’s quite a lot to cope with in a week • Please do not ask us to enter your child if we feel it is not appropriate

17. What happens if my child is ill? • They stay tucked up in bed until they are better • If they recover within 5 school days of the test they miss, they can still take it when they return • If they take longer to recover they will be given no SAT level for any subjects they miss, but they will still be given teacher assessments

18. My child finds their learning quite challenging and worries in tests. How will you help them? • We are allowed to vary test conditions for some children as we see fit. For example some may benefit from: • Being in a smaller group in a different room • Having one to one adult support to encourage and keep on task • Having maths or grammar questions read to them

19. My child finds their learning quite challenging and worries in tests. How will you help them? • For a very few children we may apply for 25% additional time, but only if we feel it will benefit them and we have appropriate evidence to support the application

20. Thank you for your time • Please don’t worry about SATs • Speak to Mr Green, Mr Trotman or Mr Warren if you have any concerns • Any questions?