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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| English Sats results have fallen | English Sats results have fallen |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| There has been a slight fall in the proportion of 11-year-olds in England reaching the standard expected of them in English national curriculum tests. | There has been a slight fall in the proportion of 11-year-olds in England reaching the standard expected of them in English national curriculum tests. |
| In 2009 80% did so, down from 81% last year. This is the first time since 1995 that the results have fallen. | In 2009 80% did so, down from 81% last year. This is the first time since 1995 that the results have fallen. |
| Attainment in maths and science was 79% and 88%, the same as last year. | Attainment in maths and science was 79% and 88%, the same as last year. |
| Science tests are being scrapped next year. Two education unions plan to boycott the 2010 Sats, arguing they narrow the curriculum for children. | Science tests are being scrapped next year. Two education unions plan to boycott the 2010 Sats, arguing they narrow the curriculum for children. |
| Last year the government missed its target for 85% of pupils to make the grade in English and 85% in maths and now it has slipped further away. | Last year the government missed its target for 85% of pupils to make the grade in English and 85% in maths and now it has slipped further away. |
| KEY STAGE 2 RESULTS Level 4 English: 80%Maths: 79%Science: 88% Level 5 English: 29%Maths: 35%Science: 43% Source: DCSF | |
| A new target is that 78% will do so in both subjects by 2011. | A new target is that 78% will do so in both subjects by 2011. |
| The test results rose markedly after Labour came to power and introduced literacy and numeracy strategies in England's primary schools. | The test results rose markedly after Labour came to power and introduced literacy and numeracy strategies in England's primary schools. |
| The English attainment stalled on 75% for four years in a row before recommencing its upward trend. | The English attainment stalled on 75% for four years in a row before recommencing its upward trend. |
| This year's results are provisional and might change slightly once all the remarking requested by schools has been completed. | This year's results are provisional and might change slightly once all the remarking requested by schools has been completed. |
| Some would also question the validity of last year's score, given the chaos that afflicted the whole marking process prior to the departure of the test contractor, ETS Europe. | Some would also question the validity of last year's score, given the chaos that afflicted the whole marking process prior to the departure of the test contractor, ETS Europe. |
| Changes | Changes |
| At the higher Level 5, attainment this year was 29% in English (down one percentage point) and down one point in science at 43%. | At the higher Level 5, attainment this year was 29% in English (down one percentage point) and down one point in science at 43%. |
| But the maths results jumped four percentage points, to 35%. | But the maths results jumped four percentage points, to 35%. |
| This Level 5 is the attainment more normally expected of 14-year-olds in secondary school. | This Level 5 is the attainment more normally expected of 14-year-olds in secondary school. |
| Sats for 14-year-olds were scrapped altogether last autumn following the widespread delays in marking. | Sats for 14-year-olds were scrapped altogether last autumn following the widespread delays in marking. |
| This is the last year that the science test will be taken by 11-year-olds. | This is the last year that the science test will be taken by 11-year-olds. |
| Instead teachers will assess their children's progress, the pattern already established in Wales. | Instead teachers will assess their children's progress, the pattern already established in Wales. |
| As a check on national standards, a random sample of 10,000 pupils will sit tests each year - as is done in Scotland. | As a check on national standards, a random sample of 10,000 pupils will sit tests each year - as is done in Scotland. |
| Boycott ballot | |
| A ballot on a boycott of next year's Sats is planned by two education unions. | |
| The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) oppose Sats because they say teachers are obliged to "teach to the test". | |
| They argue that the focus on the Sats subjects is to the detriment of the wider curriculum and they oppose schools' results being published in league tables. | |
| In a statement the NAHT said: "We believe that the system is simply being maintained through political obduracy and that there are better ways to gain a broad picture of primary education in England. | |
| "We encourage parents to ignore this meaningless nonsense and to work with their schools to ensure that they are not unfairly judged by some inspectors who treat this information as being accurate and therefore prejudge school performance on the basis of an erroneous and narrow set of indicators." | |
| The government has warned heads they have a statutory duty to administer the tests, and a boycott would be illegal. | |
| Single level | Single level |
| Next year in a few hundred pilot schools in England, single level tests will replace Sats in maths, though the government is moving cautiously in introducing the new tests. | Next year in a few hundred pilot schools in England, single level tests will replace Sats in maths, though the government is moving cautiously in introducing the new tests. |
| With the existing Sats the questions cover a range of abilities so children can be scored at different levels. | With the existing Sats the questions cover a range of abilities so children can be scored at different levels. |
| In the new single level tests being piloted in English reading, English writing and mathematics, the questions are all pitched at a certain level of understanding. | In the new single level tests being piloted in English reading, English writing and mathematics, the questions are all pitched at a certain level of understanding. |
| Children are entered for the relevant level when their teachers think they are ready. So they take it with others of the same ability level rather than the same age - rather like a piano exam. | Children are entered for the relevant level when their teachers think they are ready. So they take it with others of the same ability level rather than the same age - rather like a piano exam. |
| This is technically complex in terms of designing the tests, but the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency believes it can now see a way to do it. | This is technically complex in terms of designing the tests, but the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency believes it can now see a way to do it. |