Key Stage 2 - SATS - Year 6

What are KS2 - SATs?

If you have a child in Year 6, at the end of Key Stage 2 they will be taking national curriculum tests to assess their progress through their primary school life.

They will also be sent to the secondary school your child will be transferring to. These results may be used to identify a baseline on your child's capabilities and help some schools streamline or put children in appropriate sets.

It is also important to stress that the tests are used to assess the school's performance and to produce national performance data.

What will my child be assessed on?

Your child will take tests in English grammar, punctuation and spelling usually referred as SPAG. English reading and mathematics.

The science sampling tests are taken every two years and will be taken in 2020. Selected schools will be notified and will need to test pupilsin the two-week period from Monday 8 June2020.

When will the tests be?

The tests date are set nationally and the tests will taken on the set dates unless your child is ill.

The tests for 2020 will start on Monday 11th May 2020 and will be over 4 days.

Teacher Assessment

As there is no test for English writing, this will be reported as a teacher assessment judgement.

This is a judgement teachers will make, based on your child’s work at the end of key stage 2.

You will also receive a teacher assessment judgement for science.

When will I receive the test results?

The tests are marked externally and you will be informed of your child's result late summer.

SATs results explained.

Since 2016 children have been given scaled SATs scores.

This scoring method is widely used for school assessments across the world.

To calculate a child's scaled score, their raw score – in other words, the actual number of marks they achieved – will be converted into a scaled score.

This is used to show whether the child has achieved the national standard for that subject.

The papers are marked externally, with no teacher assessment involved.

Your child will be awarded a raw score and a scaled score, and you will be told if your child has achieved the national standard.

Your school will inform you of yours child's outcome by using on of the codes as of below:

AS: Expected Standard has been achieved

NS: Expected Standard has not been achieved

A: Absent from one or more of the test papers

B: Is working below the level assessed by KS2 SATs

M: Child missed the test

T: Child is working at the level of the tests but is unable to access them (because all or partof a test is not suitable for a pupil with particular special educational needs)

The range of scaled scores:

80 is the lowest possiblescaled score

120 is the highest possible scaled score

A scaled score of 100 or more means that the child has met the expected standard in each test; ascaled score of 99 or less means they haven't reached the government-expected standard.

How can I help my child?

The key role as a parent is to encourage, motivate and develop good routines to ensure your child keeps up with the pace of work in Year 6.

Some children really struggle and you might find that your child is coming home very tired, not wanting to talk about school, getting upset, showing signs of irregular sleep patters or eating routines. Some children have tummy aches, headaches or generally not feeling well because of the pressure they feel.

Your role is to ensure they are eating regular meals and drinking lots of water. Encourage your child to get out and do activities that they enjoy so they feel they get a break and some downtime from the learning. Give them regular treats it can be something they enjoy doing with you to something they like eating.

Ensure your child is sleeping well, if they are feeling restless or anxious use techniques that we have suggested below to ease these worries.

Talking regularly with your child to keep reassuring them that they are ok and the tests are there to test the teachers and schools and not just them.

Work on papers together or on techniques together to develop good test skills.

Focus on what they are doing right and motivate them to work on what they find difficult. Talk to your teacher who will be able to advise and guide you as a parent to how to support your child.

Use the resources below to help :