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Key Stage 2 SATs 2011 – Headline figures mask mixed school bag August 4, 2011

The National curriculum tests, aka KS2 SATs, showed a marginal improvement at Key Stage 2 (taken at 10-11 years) according to Department for Education figures released this week.  A welcome three percent rise means that 67% of pupils reach the required standard prior to the cross over from primary to secondary school. The tests, taken by 554,000 pupils this May and derided in many circles, show how many children can read, write and add up at the level they’re supposed to – or not in the case of  a third of children and one in ten boys who leave primary school with the reading age of a seven-year-old.

The combined headline figure of 67% shows girls beat boys in all but mathematics, where both achieved 80%.  Across the remaining individual subjects girls bettered boys 86%-77% in English, Reading 87%-80% and writing 81%-77%. The gap is at its widest when one compares those achieving Level 4 in all three subjects, here we see 72% for girls and 62% for boys.

Regional variations see Richmond-Upon-Thames and the Isle of Wight at opposite ends of the performance table. In English, Richmond sees 86% of boys (93% of girls) achieving level 4 compared to 67% in the Isle of Wight and 69% in Rotherham. In Reading Richmond and Cheshire East share the spoils with 88% of boys reaching the required level.Richmond is also the best place for Maths with Trafford second.

The Isle of Wight also has the lowest scores for writing and mathematics to conclude this years somewhat inglorious trio. Only 55% of boys and 76% of girls reach level 4 for writing, whilst 68% of boys and 70% of girls made the Maths grade.  Medway, in Kent, is second worst with 72% and 74% respectively and mathematically speaking. Derby, Nottingham and Manchester have 11% of boys and 6% of girls failing to reach level 2 in English.

Adrian Prandle, education policy adviser at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL), said of the KS2 SATs results:
“We are really pleased that two-thirds of 11-year olds meet the expected standards reading, writing and maths. But what really matters is whether children have got the skills they need to progress in education, and not whether they can pass a particular test on a particular day. The SATs tests are fatally flawed and blight children’s education. Up to 30% of the test results are wrong, they do not raise standards and they don’t give a true picture of children’s progress.
“Because of the importance placed on the tests by the government there is huge pressure on schools and teachers to concentrate on the borderline pupils, to teach to the test, and to limit the curriculum taught to concentrate on test subjects.
“The government seems to be beginning to realise that teacher assessment is a better alternative and is introducing teacher assessment for writing composition to the 2012 SATs. But it has not gone far enough; the government should replace SATs with teacher assessments, which give a more accurate picture of children’s performance and progress. And alongside teacher assessment there should be sample national testing of pupils to give an over view of children’s skills level inEngland.
“The government’s obsession with using phonics to teach reading is unhelpful. Children will do best if they have teachers who have the freedom and flexibility to adapt their teaching to each child’s specific learning style.”