Levelling without levels…

English

End of year 6 we think is more like an old 4a. Accurate grammar and punctuation is a much bigger focus – more than content and composition. There is a prescriptive list of the grammar, punctuation and spelling for each year group. There is more focus on phonics for spelling earlier in year 1 – not just phonics for reading. Handwriting – there is a specified requirement for joined handwriting by the end of year 3. There is a bigger focus on proof reading and accuracy. There are less specific genres to be covered in writing – focus is more on quality of written English. There is a more focus on spoken English including standard English – we need to model this as children will

be more deeply assessed on these areas. In reading, as well as detailed comprehension there is new focus on reading aloud with pace and expression.

SATSFor this year children in year 2 and 6 will do the ‘old’ SATs. We have limited information about the new SATS for 2015:• The new year 6 assessments will focus on using and applying in maths. It will be a ‘secondary ready’ test – only assessing if they have reached, and can use and apply the end of year 6 expectations. • The new year 2 assessments for writing will be focusing on spelling, grammar and punctuation. This is more like a SpAG test.

Criteria for assessment• Children assessed against the end of year expectations for their

current year group known as ‘milestones’

• Each assessment point determines pupils progress achieving the ‘milestone’ for their current year.

• Those who have already solidly and completely met end of year expectations can begin working towards the next year.

• Pupils who have not met the previous years objectives need to continue to work towards them but also experience own year group so they don’t drop further behind.

Each year group split into 3 points

Year 3Milestone 2 (end y2) = 15 pointsMilestone 3 (end y3) = 18 points

16 points = y3 skills emerging – above y2 skills, beginning to show progress in y3 skills – may be some fully achieved

17 points = y3 skills developing – more confident with a wider range of year 3 skills, a number of skills fully achieved.

18 points = y3 skills secure – all y3 skills achieved confidently.

Tracking points

End of year assessments

All children assessed against their current year ‘milestone’ as well as given their ‘point’.

Not yet achieved their milestone ‘ Emerging’Fully achieved their milestone ‘Expected’Working towards the next milestone ‘Exceeding’

Example – y4LA child – 19 points ‘year 4 emerging’MA child – 21 points ‘year 4 expected’HA child – 27 points ‘year 4 exceeding’ (equivalent to y6 expected’)

End of KS2 assessments‘Secondary ready’ test. Can children use and apply the end of year 6 expectations?

Milestone 5 = 24 points25 points = emerging towards milestone 626 points = developing towards milestone 627 points = secure at milestone 6 ‘secondary ready’

27 points current 4b – new 27 is more like 5c

Points linked to titlesPoints y3 band y4 band15 Emerging Emerging 161718 Expected 19 Exceeding2021 Expected 22 Exceeding232425

Pupils progress

LA MA HA End of year 3 Emerging year 3

16 points Expected year 3 18 points

Exceeding year 3 21 points

Autumn year 4 Emerging year 4 17 points

Emerging year 4 19 points

Expected year 4 22 points

Spring year 4 Emerging year 4 18 points

Expected year 4 20 points

Exceeding year 4 23 points

Summer year 4 Emerging year 4 19 points

Expected year 4 21 points

Exceeding year 4 24 points

The new points are not the same as the old.

Year Tracking Points

EYFS 9

Year 1 12

Year 2 15

Year 3 18

Year 4 21

Year 5 24

Year 6 27

Tracking points•Rather than levels and APS points we will now use tracking points. Although the numbers are similar the expectation is not ie. what you have to do for 18 APS points is not the same as 18 tracking points; you have to do more to get 18 tracking points. •The end of year is a called a milestone ie. milestone 3 is the end of year 3. •Each milestone matches to a tracking point – milestone 3 is 18 points.•Between milestones each year has 3 points which children progress through (in year 3 16,17 and 18)•We are in the process of allocating skills to each point ie. what 17 or 16 points entails.•Children who are higher or lower achievers may be working towards end of year milestones for a different year group.•We expect children to make 3 points progress a year.•At the end of year we will report children’s attainment compared to the expectation of their current year group. ie. An ‘average’ child in year 4 would be expected to achieve 21 points (meeting all of year 4 expectations). This would be reported as ‘expected for year 4’. A child in year 4 achieving 25 points (which is equivalent to the end of y5 expectation) is reported as ‘exceeding for year 4’ A child in year 4 achieving 19 points (which is still working towards the y4 expectation) is reported as ‘emerging for year 4’

Changing over to new assessment

• Autumn 1 – ‘baseline’ against new expectations– Allocate children new points

based on their performance against end of year milestone expectations.

– Some pupils may look like they have gone backwards as the expectations for each point have increased.

– Parents will be informed to ensure they understand changes.

• Autumn 2 – all assessment against new expectations (except y2/6)

Switching over

Teachers have been asked to continue on the old system until half term. They will then switch children over to the new tracking sheets.

Some children will appear to have gone backwards as they may no longer be meeting their year group expectations. Ie. a child who was an old 3c- (18 APS) at the end of year 3, which was average, may not have met all the new end of year 3 expectations so may be 17 tracking points.

The parents meeting is to warn parents of this and explain why – ie. because expectations have been raised.

Current y6 / y2

• Teach new curriculum (expectations are higher).• Assess, track and report against old ‘levels’ and points ie. 27

points = 4b+

• Need to be aware of the differences in APS points (old) and Tracking points (new) especially in y6

• Use old ‘level descriptors’ but keep in mind their progress towards milestone.

• At end of year (after SATS) will transfer to ‘new points’