KS1 (key stage 1) students are aged 5 to 7, in schools across England and Wales KS1 is normally Year 1 and Year 2.
KS2 (key stage 2) students are aged 7 - 11, normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6.
So, what are the major primary school assessment reforms?
- All schools will give children a baseline assessment in reception, to allow Ofsted to judge schools on the progress that students make as well as on their test results.
- Assessments before the end of Year 6 will be teacher marked, not externally marked.
- The government will set ‘performance description indicators’, and schools will use these to assess students instead of the levels (such as 4a or 6c) that they use at the moment.
- At the end of Year 6, test results will be in the form of a ‘precise scaled score’, where 100 is the expected score. These scores will be reported to parents, who will also be told how their child has performed in comparison to the average for the school, the local area and students nationally.
- End of Year 6 tests will be more challenging
‘So when will my child be tested, and what in?’ we hear you cry.
Your child will sit the following tests throughout their time at primary school:
- A reception baseline test
- A phonics check at the end of Year 1
End of Key Stage 1 tests set by the government but marked by teachers in:
- Writing (including grammar, punctuation and spelling)
- Teacher-set assessments at the end of Key Stage 1 in:
- Speaking and Listening
National tests at the end of Key Stage 2 in:
- Grammar, punctuation and spelling
Teacher assessments at the end of Key Stage 2 in:
Whew! This is all quite a change to primary school assessment, and it comes on top of updates to the National Curriculum. While teachers and students alike wrap their heads around these updates, our tutors will be on hand to help give your child a boost.
Browse our website and find a tutor! We have thousands of specialist 7+ and 11+ tutors, so you can be sure of finding someone who is just the right fit for you.
Written by Emma H (English teacher)
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Related article: GCSE Exam Reforms