On 9th July 2018, the DfE released the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 test dates for the 2018/19 academic year.
Key Stage 1
- Week commencing Mon 10th June 2019 – Phonics screening check week
Multiplication tables check: update
On 9th July 2018, the DfE released an update on the development of the multiplication tables check (MTC).
About the MTC
- Between 10th June – 28th June 2019 a national voluntary pilot will be run to allow schools to familiarise themselves with the check before it becomes statutory in June 2020.
- Schools will have a 3- week window to administer the tests, and teachers have the flexibility to check individual children, small groups or a whole class at the same time.
Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, talks about the curriculum and the relationship between Ofsted and data
Ofsted’s Chief Inspector, Amanda Spielman, delivered an insightful speech at the Wellington Festival of Education. So, we’ve picked out a handful of key points (particularly about the curriculum and the relationship between Ofsted and data) that we think you’ll find interesting ahead of next year…
3 ways to reduce unnecessary workload with standardised tests
Publishing Director, Katie Blainey, explores unnecessary workload and how using standardised tests can save you heaps of valuable time!
It may sound unintuitive that an increase in testing can ultimately reduce workload for teachers and increase pupils’ learning, but it is worth considering. Increasingly, primary schools, secondary schools and MATs are adopting standardised tests across the school to support informed teaching and save time. Here are just 3 reasons why…
How have our Optional Tests helped Primary children and teachers?
As the Summer term nears its end, our Assessment Publisher, Cerys Hadwin-Owen, takes the time to reflect on how using our Optional Tests this term has helped Primary children and teachers.
Our Optional Tests are written and edited by primary subject experts, many of whom have experience of working directly with the Department for Education on the current National Test papers. They have all been primary classroom teachers themselves, with many still holding teaching and leadership positions in schools across the country.
What does scrunched up formative assessment look like?
Attacking a question in this way makes the learning more active and enables children to view assessment as an exciting experience that can help them progress.
Thanks to John Dabell for the following article.
Have you ever tried scrunched up or crumpled assessment before?
This is a tried and tested strategy for self, peer and whole-class assessment and gives children the chance to make their ideas visible in an active and exciting context. It facilitates knowledge and understanding upgrades and helps the class to work as a team of learners.
Crumpled assessment is a very engaging way to get a snapshot of the ideas and explanations children hold and you can use the information to design and provide targeted learning opportunities for conceptual change.
Helping MATs make sense of their data
James Pembroke is the founder of the school data company, Sig+, and he’s written this very handy article to help Multi Academy Trusts make sense of their data.
What are the benefits and risks of data collection in MATs?
Due to the nature of MATs, there’s a wide range of expertise that can be utilised to develop effective, common approaches to assessment. Decision makers are more well informed, so they can direct resources to where they’re most needed, and large numbers of pupils mean more reliable, meaningful data. The risk of data collection, though, is that it might lead to a top down, accountability-focused system of assessment that increases workload but doesn’t have much of an impact on learning. So, how can we make sense of all this data, and put it to good use? Continue reading →
The Year 6 SATs are over, so what next for Year 5?
Thanks to Ruth Duckworth, Year 6 Teacher/Writing Lead at Christ Church C of E Primary School, for this really insightful piece full of handy hints and tips for transitioning your Year 5s into Year 6.
The Year 6 SATs are over for another year; writing pieces will soon complete the end of Key Stage 2 assessments and many staff will breathe more easily for a few weeks – until ‘data day’ in early July. So, many of you will be thinking about the next cohort to come into Year 6. Continue reading →
Key Stage 2 National Test Materials
On 29th May 2018, the DfE publicly released the test materials from this year’s Key Stage 2 National Tests.
The test papers and mark schemes for all subjects can be found here:
- KS2 Mathematics 2018 test materials
- KS2 English grammar, punctuation and spelling 2018 test matierals
- KS2 English reading 2018 test materials
SATs 2018 Round-up: surprises, challenges and lessons-learnt
Thanks to Tennyson Road, Christ Church CE Primary, and Medmerry Primary school for sharing their reactions to the 2018 SATs.
How did you find the SATs this year? Tweet us your thoughts on this year’s tests @RSAssessment
Tennyson Road Primary School
“Thanks to Rising Stars resources, our children were well prepared and took on the challenge with enthusiasm” – Carla Gotch, Tennyson Road Primary School
‘I really enjoyed that Miss!’ was the cry from Kestrel class after closing their final paper on Thursday Morning. A smile creeping across my face. If nothing else I had done my job right! 30 happy children all confident and enjoying SATs! Or maybe that was just the SATs breakfast they had each day… Continue reading →