Statutory Assessment Tests (SATs)

SATS happen in May and we want to reassure you that we will do everything we can to make the process as comfortable as possible for your children.

Please remember, that the SATs tests are not something that you or your child should be worrying about.  These statutory tests are one of a suite of tools schools use to assess your child.  Throughout their time at Exeter, our pupils practice summative tests on a termly basis and are exposed to test conditions in a range of subjects continuously.  In Key Stage 1, tests are usually called quizzes or end assessment points so that pupils are not daunted and SATs testing in Key Stage 1 is kept very low key.

 

When will the SATS take place?

KS2 SATS (Year 6 Pupils) will be administered throughout the week of 13th to 16th May 2024.  The dates are set by the Standards and Testing Agency and will be held on the following dates:

  • Monday 13th May 2024 - Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Paper 1 - 45 mins
  • Monday 13th May 2024 - Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Paper 2 - 20 mins
  • Tuesday 14th May 2024 - English Reading - 60 minutes
  • Wednesday 15th May 2024 - Maths Paper 1 (Arithmetic) - 30 minutes
  • Wednesday 15th May 2024 - Maths Paper 2 (Reasoning) - 40 minutes
  • Thursday 16th May 2024 - Maths Paper 3 (Reasoning) - 40 minutes

Please watch this video to see the information shared at our parent meeting.

What will children be tested on in their SATs? 

Of course we all wish we knew the answer to this question! KS2 SATs consist of 6 papers, sat within time restrictions. In addition, there is a teacher assessed element in KS2 to establish a ‘Writing’ score. These papers are sent back to be marked centrally with marks standardised around a score of 100.

Year 6 National Tests: KS2 SATs Papers

10 and 11 year olds in Year 6 will sit the following KS2 SATs Papers in May. In addition some schools will be chosen for science sampling and will also sit a KS2 Science Paper

The KS2 Reading SATs:

  • This is one paper, with questions that are based on 3 different passages of text. Pupils will have 1 hour to complete the paper.

The KS2 SPaG SATs:

  • There is a 20 word aural spelling test which should last around 15 minutes.
  • There is also a written element which consists of an English grammar and punctuation paper, which will last for 45 minutes.

The KS2 Maths SATs:

  • There will be 3 mathematics papers.
  • Paper 1 is an arithmetic paper which will last for 30 minutes.
  • Papers 2 and 3 are reasoning papers which will last for 40 minutes each.

 

What can parents do to help their children prepare for SATs?

Let us reassure you, that we have been working incredibly hard to prepare your children for their SATs.  We are sure that there are many parents worrying about what they can do to help their children.  Our most important piece of advice, is to not put them under any pressure with regards to these tests.  Ultimately, the tests are only one tool with which we assess your child, and in Key Stage 1 it is the Teacher's Assessment that is reported, not the Test Results.

For those pupils in Year 6, the tests are predominantly used as part of a transition package for Secondary School.  However, once again, this information is supported by Teacher Assessments and a range of other contextual information.  Often, Secondary Schools will conduct their own baselines when the child starts in Year 7 to inform their groupings.  So please remember, that if your child does not get the results you had hoped for, it really isn't the end of the world.

 

Here are some important tips for helping your child prepare for SATs:

  • Talk about the SATs and tell them not worry about them. The school will also do this, too, but it makes a bigger impact if school and parents do this together. Children perform best when they are relaxed.
  • Reading is a key part of primary education so keep encouraging daily reading whether your child reads on their own or if you read together. Discuss the books, the characters, the storylines and encourage your child to express their own opinions on the book. This is important to their long term development as well as SATs test.
  • Play mental games when you are on the way home whether you are walking or driving. Playing card games, Uno, Monopoly and dominoes all help with Maths. Whereas games like hangman, Boggle or Scrabble will support with literacy,
  • You can buy test papers and work through them with your child but your child will be doing lots of tests in school so only do more if your child enjoys their challenge. If your child doesn’t like them, it is counter productive to force them to do more.
  • There are lots of revision guides available to buy. You do not have to get one but if your child is reassured by having a book why not choose one together.
  • Try to keep everything else running normally. So whether its sport, music lessons or Scouts and Guides; sticking to your normal routine of out of school activities demonstrates to your child that SATs are not the be and end all of year 6.
  • During the SATs week, whilst keeping to normal timetable, try to avoid late nights, as children will find sitting the tests tiring.
  • Try to make sure your child has some fresh air when they come home from school on test days.
  • Keep it in proportion. They are primary-school tests to gauge the education in the school and do not affect the secondary school your child will go to.
  • Stay positive. Many children enjoy taking the tests as they see it as a challenge and like the importance and the feeling of being special that SATs give year 6.

Useful Links

Here are some recommended links that will further enhance your child’s learning:

Mathematics:

BBC Bitesize: This is useful if you are struggling with a particular area of Mathematics; it has fun videos and explanations to help you understand.

Hit the Button: This fun game helps improve rapid recall of times tables – a vital life skill.

Daily 10: A series of quick-fire mental mathematics questions, covering all areas of the curriculum.

Year Six Maths: Questions from every area of the curriculum that increase in difficulty the more you get correct.

Mental Maths: Use all your mental maths skills to escape the bio-rods in this exciting Mission 2100 game.

Guess My Number: Can you work out these mental maths problems? Lots of questions to get your brain cells working.

 

Spelling:

BBC Bitesize: Videos which explain every rule in the KS2 spelling curriculum.

Spelling Frame: A spelling game where every word from the KS2 spelling curriculum is included.

Spooky Spellings: This spelling game uses the words listed in the national curriculum as being ‘Common Exception Words’ or tricky words.

Prefixes and Suffixes: A game where you need to choose prefixes and suffixes to make a new word.

Look, Cover, Write and Check: A look, cover, write and check spelling site where you can test yourself on high frequency words, spelling patters, tricky words or enter your own words to easily test your knowledge.

 

Reading:

BBC Bitesize: This is useful if you are struggling with a particular area of reading; it has fun videos and explanations to help you understand.

Deduction-Trapped: Play deductive reasoning games and escape from the tower. You need to read the passage of the book and see what you can find out from it.

Finding Information: A spooky literacy game about finding information.

Deduction: A game where you need to use your deduction skills to read and follow instructions to make journeys on a map.

Non-Fiction Game: A game where you need to select an appropriate title, text and picture to suit three non-fiction types of writing.

Reading Comprehension: A large selection of interactive, self-checking reading comprehension activities.

Poetry Comprehension: Learn about important English terms by answering the questions, moving on to the next verse and completing as many tasks as you can.

Read Theory: In these reading comprehension exercises, students read a short story and then answer questions about details in the story.

 

Writing:

BBC Bitesize (Creative Writing): This is useful if you are struggling with a particular area of story writing; it has fun videos and explanations to help you understand.

BBC Bitesize (Language): This is useful if you are struggling with a particular aspect of language; it has fun videos and explanations to help you understand.

Creepy Verbs and Adverbs: Transform a boring horror story into a bestseller by selecting effective verbs and adverbs to increase its impact and make it more exciting.

Points of View Newspaper Report: Read and listen to two witness reports of a skateboarding accident and learn about how journalists structure newspaper reports and use verbs, adverbial phrases and pronouns to create an effect.

Paragraphs: A game where you need to choose the text with the correct paragraphs.

Story Planning: An English game which shows the importance of using the right words for your story. You need to choose suitable words to match the theme.