SATs, or Standard Assessment Tasks and Tests, are national tests that children sit at the end of each key stage in primary school and at the end of Key Stage 3 in secondary school. Almost all children are entered for the tests; only in rare cases can they be withdrawn. They are an indicator of the progress that your child has made at school in the three core curriculum subjects (English, Maths and Science). In addition the SATs, (published in league tables nationally), are used to measure a school’s performance. League tables do not always give the full picture. For example, they don’t take into account the number of special needs children who may have sat the test and achieved a level 3 (a good achievement for them), or those who may have changed schools a number of times. An alternative way of measuring a school’s progress is to look at the achievements of pupils who have been in the school since reception, where the Foundation Stage Profiles are completed on each child.

What are the children tested on?
The children are tested on all of the work they have covered in all year groups so far. Year 2 and 6 children are tested on Maths, English and Science. Years 3, 4 and 5 are only tested in Maths and English, and have Science assessments through out the year.

·        By the time they have taken their Key Stage 1 SATs (year 2), the majority of pupils will be achieving a level 2B;

·        The expected score for the majority at Key Stage 2 SATs is level 4.

Levels are graded as;

·        Level 5 ~ Very able at year 6

·        Level 4~ Most pupils in year 6 should be reaching

·        Level 3~ A likely result for an able pupil in Year 3 or children in Year 4

·        Level 2 (A, B or C) Level 2B

Formal assessments take place through out the year. SATs results rarely hold any surprises for the teaching staff.

How to help your child

·        Make sure they get enough sleep.

·        Make sure they eat breakfast.

·        Don’t try and frighten them into revising. Stories about ending up in the bottom stream in their secondary school adds pressure and stress.

·        Assist children with their homework as it reinforces learning in class.

·        Encourage them to ask the teacher if they are unsure about anything.

·        Explain that the SATs are a way of showing what they know.

    Timetable May 2008