What are SATs? A Comprehensive Guide for Parents
Parents, it's that time of year again - SATs season! As the KS1 and KS2 SATs in 2024 approach, you may be wondering how best to support your child.
Let's break it down. The KS2 SATs will be taken by your Year 6 student while the KS1 SATs are for Year 2 pupils. That's why you'll often hear them called Year 6 SATs and Year 2 SATs.
But SATs shouldn't be a source of stress. With some preparation and encouragement, your child can approach them with confidence. Stay positive and focus on how the SATs allow teachers to understand your child's progress.
In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve deep into every aspect of SATs so you can be confident – from their purpose and structure to the potential concerns surrounding them
What are SATs in the UK
SATs are standardized national curriculum tests administered to primary school students in England at key stages of their education. These tests play a crucial role in measuring children's academic development, providing a comprehensive assessment of their understanding and application of key subjects.
What does SATs stand for
SATs stands for “Standard Assessment Tests” and are evaluations conducted at two critical stages in your child's primary education journey – Year 2 (Key Stage 1) and Year 6 (Key Stage 2). These exams aim to gauge your child's academic progress and achievements in various subjects.
When do SATs take place?
These assessments take place annually, marking significant milestones at the end of Key Stage 1 (Year 2) and Key Stage 2 (Year 6). As parents, understanding the timing and nature of these tests can be both crucial and emotional.
KS1 SATs in Year 2:
In the gentle transition of Year 2, typically when your child is around 6-7 years old. In May your Year 2 student may take the KS1 SATs covering two subjects:
Reading - Assessing reading and comprehension
Maths - Testing math skills and concepts
Additionally, a compassionate touch is added with a teacher assessment in writing. It's important to note that KS1 SATs are designed to be informal, happening in the familiar surroundings of a normal classroom. They are not strictly timed, ensuring a relaxed environment, and most notably, they are marked by your child's caring teacher.
Interestingly, many schools opt not to disclose these tests to parents or pupils. Thankfully, a positive shift followed the announcement that from 2023/24 the end of KS1 assessment will be non- statutory, granting primary schools the choice of administering them.
KS2 SATs in Year 6:
As your child blossoms into Year 6, around the ages of 10-11, the more formal Key Stage 2 SATs tests starts May as well. KS2 SATs that your Year 6 student will take will cover key subjects:
English Reading - Assessing reading comprehension
English Grammar - Testing grammar knowledge
Punctuation - Evaluating punctuation skills
Spelling - Assessing spelling ability
Maths - Covering math concepts and skills
Unlike the relaxed nature of KS1, Key Stage 2 SATs adopt a more formal structure, complete with timed sessions adhering to a nationwide exam timetable. To add an extra layer, these exams are sent off for external marking, emphasizing their significance in the educational journey.
Who Does the Marking?
For the little ones in Year 2 (that's KS1), their lovely teachers are the ones marking the SATs. When it comes to the bigger kids in Year 6 (KS2), external examiners, who are like test experts from outside the school, do the marking.
Raw Scores and Scaled Scores – What's That?
Now, about scores – your child gets an 'exam mark' like 25/36 or 42/60. This is called a 'raw score' because it's the total number of marks they got on the test.
Then, there's something called a 'scaled score.' Think of it like a helpful tool. A conversion chart is used to turn the raw score into this scaled score. The scale goes from 80 to 120.
What Do These Scores Mean?
Now, here's the interesting part. The average score is always 100. If your child's score is below 100, it means they haven't quite reached the expected standard. If it's between 100 and 109, that's the expected standard – good job! And if it's 110 or above, that's awesome! They've not just met but exceeded the expected standard, showing they're doing really well.
Getting the Results – Do parents get it? Or How Does it Work?
So, after your child does their SATs, you might wonder when and how you'll get the results. Well, most of the time, parents do get the results. In July, each school receives individual pupil's results through an online portal.
When will the KS1 SATs results 2024 come out?
For the little ones in KS1 (Year 2), it might be a tiny bit different. Parents might need to ask the school to see the detailed SATs marks. But don't worry, even if you don't ask, the school will let you know if your child is working at the expected level. They usually include this in the end-of-year report, so you'll get the scoop on how well your child is doing.
When do the KS2 SATs results 2024 come out?
Now, when it comes to the bigger kids in KS2 (Year 6), parents usually get their child's scaled scores during the summer term. This info might reach you through email, a letter, or as part of the end-of-term report. They'll also tell you if your child has reached the expected level.
Come December, the Department of Education publishes each school's KS2 SATs results in league tables. It's like a big report card for schools. This lets parents all over the country compare schools against each other and against the national standard. It's a chance to see how well schools are doing.
What's a Good Score?
Now, the big question, what's a good SATs score? Well, in both KS1 and KS2, anything above 100 is considered good. If your child scores above 110, that's fantastic! It means they're not just meeting expectations but going above and beyond, performing at 'greater depth' and 'exceeding expectations.' So, if you see scores in this range, give your child a high-five, they're doing awesome!
For Children:
Yes, SATs results are important for kids. When they move on to secondary school, the scores from Year 6 SATs are often used. Secondary schools use these results, along with other tests like CAT tests, to figure out target GCSE grades and decide how to group students academically in Year 7.
Even if your child is applying to an independent school, they might ask about the KS2 SATs results or what the teacher thinks the results might be. But here's the key thing to remember – SATs only look at English and math skills.
They don't show if your child is a great communicator, a talented musician, or a budding entrepreneur. So, while SATs are important, they're not the only measure of your child's abilities.
For Primary Schools:
Now, let's talk about why SATs matter for primary schools. The results can vary between different year groups because every bunch of kids is different. It wouldn't be fair to judge a school just by looking at one set of SATs results. But here's the clever part – since SATs happen in Year 2 and Year 6, they show how much progress kids make during their time in primary school. Schools look at these results to see how well they're teaching and helping kids learn.
If a school consistently falls below certain standards, it might lead to actions from the local authority and Ofsted, the education inspection people. So, SATs results matter to both schools and individual pupils because they give a snapshot of what kids have learned in English and math, sort of like showing the 'academic value' of the school.
Feeling overwhelmed about SAT prep? You're not alone!
At Edukoya, we've helped over 1,000 students master the skills needed to succeed on their SATs over the years. Our targeted online classes will benefit your child too.
Rather than creating test anxiety, our approach builds confidence:
Fun, engaging video lessons that make learning sticks
Personalized practice that strengthens weak areas
Celebrating growth and wins (not just scores!)
Check out our Year 2 and Year 6 SAT prep courses today!
