Assessment | The Aldgate School

Key Stage 2 - Year 6

KS2 national curriculum test outcomes are reported by using scaled scores. A scaled score of 100 will always represent the expected standard on the test. A child who is given a score of 99 or fewer will not have met the expected standard in that test. In Key Stage 2, the lowest scaled score is 80 and the highest is 120. For more information on scaled scores, visit: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/scaled-scores-at-key-stage-2

There will only be 1 set of tests for each subject. The tests will include a small number of questions designed to assess the most able pupils so separate tests, such as the previous level 6 tests, are no longer required.

The KS2 tests consist of:

English reading: reading booklet and associated answer booklet
English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 1: short answer questions
English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 2: spelling
mathematics Paper 1: arithmetic
mathematics Paper 2: reasoning
mathematics Paper 3: reasoning

Writing is assessed by the teacher and moderated by the local authority. The quality of the child's work throughout the whole academic year will be taken into consideration when awarding the final assessment mark. Writing assessment continues until the end of June.

Letter to Year 6 parents
Government information for parents 2023

Key Stage 1 - Year 2

From the 2023-24 academic year, KS1 national curriculum tests are no longer compulsory. Although the tests will continue to be published, schools will be able to choose whether they use this material or their own to build assessments. At The Aldgate School we will continue to use the published materials, however we will carry them out after the May half term rather than before (until now they have been completed in May).

Outcomes are reported using scaled scores. A scaled score of 100 will always represent the expected standard on the test. A child who is given a score of 99 or fewer will not have met the expected standard in that test. In Key Stage 1, the lowest scaled score is 85 and the highest is 115. More information on scaled scores can be found at www.gov.uk/guidance/scaled-scores. Teachers will use the test results along with their own assessment of how children have coped with their learning throughout the school year to make a final judgement about whether children are meeting the curriculum expectations.

The tests consist of:

English reading Paper 1: combined reading prompt and answer booklet
English reading Paper 2: reading booklet and reading answer booklet
mathematics Paper 1: arithmetic
mathematics Paper 2: reasoning
English grammar, punctuation and spelling papers

The tests will take place in June. Children will complete the assessments as a part of the school day. These are carried out in a calm and positive way and children will not recognise any difference in routine from other assessments they have completed throughout the year.

Year 1 Phonics check

The phonics screening check is designed to confirm whether pupils have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate standard. It will identify pupils who need extra help to improve their decoding skills.

The check consists of 20 real words and 20 pseudo-words that a pupil reads aloud to the teacher. The test is conducted in school and you will be informed whether your child is at the standard of the tests or not. In 2023, to achieve the expected level a child had to score 34 or above.

Reception Baseline

In the first few weeks of Reception, your child's teacher will spend time finding out about your child - their interests, areas of strength and areas of development. They will do this in a range of ways including through whole group discussions, observations and by working with your child on a one to one basis. Part of this baseline assessment is known as the RBA and is carried out for every child in a Reception setting. This covers literacy, language, communication and early maths. There is no special preparation that needs to be done for this assessment!

Information for parents - Reception Baseline

Assessment across the curriculum

Assessment at The Aldgate School is carried out both informally and through more formal procedures. Teachers assess all the time, in every lesson to check children's recall of previous learning and their understanding of the current lessons. This formative assessment ensures that the lessons are correctly pitched to the children's needs.

The curriculum is made up of units within each subject area and children's skills and knowledge grows throughout the unit. At the end of each unit, children have the opportunity to pull their new found skills and knowledge together and to answer a key question around their learning. This can be done in a range of ways eg, poster, writing, presentation, evaluation.