End of KS1 teacher assessments - good, but how good?

JodyBPM

I've just had the end of year "records of achievement" (reports) for my children, and in addition an "end of KS1 teacher assessment" for my DD.

Both the reports were really glowing, rating both my children as "above the level expected for a child of their age" but as DD is at the end of KS1 we got her "levels" too. She got 3s across the board, which I understand is very good. I'm trying to get some perspective on what this means in real terms. Bearing in mind she's a) a girl and b) December born, so one of the eldest in the year, is this particularly significant? Should we be considering her exceptional, or is this a fairly usual achievement for an average earlier in the school year born girl?

balletshoes

I'm woefully ignorant of the Key Stage levels - how old is your DD?

JodyBPM

balletshoes wrote: »

I'm woefully ignorant of the Key Stage levels - how old is your DD?

She's 7, just approaching the end of Yr 2.

double_mummy

http://www.satsguide.co.uk/sats_resources_area/sats_levels_results_and_timetable.htm

milliebear00001

Level threes are good, but absolutely not exceptional. I would also pay close attention to what happens next year in her first year of KS2. Many Year 3 teachers feel children come up with levels which are not directly comparable with Year 3 expectations.

gingin_2

milliebear00001 wrote: »

Level threes are good, but absolutely not exceptional. I would also pay close attention to what happens next year in her first year of KS2. Many Year 3 teachers feel children come up with levels which are not directly comparable with Year 3 expectations.

I'm happy to be corrected but I thought that SATS levels stopped at level 3 for year 2's and level 6 for year 6. So a year 2 child could never achieve above 3a regardless of how amazing they were and a year 6 could never achieve above a 6a similarly. But that might just be playground chatter, as mine never got above that last year.

I would book a meeting with the teacher. Im sure they would be happy to go through it all with you.

JodyBPM

milliebear00001 wrote: »

Level threes are good, but absolutely not exceptional. I would also pay close attention to what happens next year in her first year of KS2. Many Year 3 teachers feel children come up with levels which are not directly comparable with Year 3 expectations.

This is my gut instinct too. Obviously she's a bright little girl, but I think she has lots of advantages being one of the eldest and a girl. It's really hard to get a "true" feel, as the end of year reports seem to focus on the positives, but completely neglect to point out any negatives.

Obviously we're very proud of both of the children, who are clearly doing well, but I'm inclined to think that this is nothing more than an indication she's working well and as expected. I know she's in the G&T for maths, which probably suggests where her strengths lay, but apart from that, I'm inclined to think she is doing pretty much as expected for a bright, early in the year born girl. DH feels that the report/levels suggests that she's exceptional!

milliebear00001

gingin wrote: »

I'm happy to be corrected but I thought that SATS levels stopped at level 3 for year 2's and level 6 for year 6. So a year 2 child could never achieve above 3a regardless of how amazing they were and a year 6 could never achieve above a 6a similarly. But that might just be playground chatter, as mine never got above that last year.

I would book a meeting with the teacher. Im sure they would be happy to go through it all with you.

The child hasn't been given a SATS level. She has been given a teacher assessed level - as all Year 2 children are. A teacher can award any level they want if the child's ability merits it.

milliebear00001

JodyBPM wrote: »

This is my gut instinct too. Obviously she's a bright little girl, but I think she has lots of advantages being one of the eldest and a girl. It's really hard to get a "true" feel, as the end of year reports seem to focus on the positives, but completely neglect to point out any negatives.

Obviously we're very proud of both of the children, who are clearly doing well, but I'm inclined to think that this is nothing more than an indication she's working well and as expected. I know she's in the G&T for maths, which probably suggests where her strengths lay, but apart from that, I'm inclined to think she is doing pretty much as expected for a bright, early in the year born girl. DH feels that the report/levels suggests that she's exceptional!

I would assume no negatives (even 'veiled' ones) means there probably aren't any! Your LO is doing very well, working hard and progressing at a good level - so relax and enjoy!

patchwork_cat

I have just looked at my children's old primary school and 19/59 acheived level 3 in reading comprehension, 6/59 in writing and 20/59 in maths in 2011

JodyBPM

milliebear00001 wrote: »

I would assume no negatives (even 'veiled' ones) means there probably aren't any! Your LO is doing very well, working hard and progressing at a good level - so relax and enjoy!

Yes DD's report had no negatives, even veiled ones.

DS's was also outstanding, but had a few "shows great enthusiasm for areas of his own interest" (but what about the other areas?) "He has tried hard to remember to remain focused during whole class activities" (aka he can't sit still when someone else is talking!) but "he has learned to manage his feelings well and has developed in maturity week by week" which could be a veiled negative, is actually my favourite comment of the whole report, because it really has been possible to watch him grow up week by week, and he's miles on from where he was at the beginning of the year (due mainly to him just growing up, plus a lot of work from us, and a totally fab teacher too!)