Year 6 Parents’ Information Evening Tuesday 11 th February 2014

1. Year 6 Parents’ Information EveningTuesday 11th February 2014 • What are the End of Key Stage 2 Tests and how are they organised? • How is Maths tested and how can I support my child? • How is English tested and how can I support my child? • How do we help to ensure that the children have a smooth and successful transition to secondary school?

2. Year 6 • At Burley Oaks, our aim is for children to become imaginative, independent and resourceful learners. • Our sole focus in Year 6 is not on ‘the test’ but on creative thinking and using and applying knowledge and skills. • Our curriculum is dynamic and uses exciting starting points. • However, the test does provide information about individual attainment which is clearly important. Children deserve for the ‘level’ achieved to fully reflect their abilities, hence, the need to prepare and support them fully.

3. What tests will take place and when? Monday 12th May English reading test Level 6 English reading test Tuesday 13th May English grammar, punctuation and spelling test Level 6 English grammar, punctuation and spelling test Wednesday 14th May Mental mathematics test Mathematics Paper 1 Thursday 15th May Mathematics Paper 2 Level 6 mathematics Paper 1 Level 6 mathematics Paper 2

4. When will the tests take place? All papers are sent to be externally marked with the exception of writing. It is vital that your child attends school on these dates.

5. What are levels? The tests will assess the children at: Level 3 Level 4 Level 5 National expectation is for children to achieve Level 4 by the end of Key Stage 2. More important is the progress that children make from their own individual starting point. Last year we achieved:

6. Can my child achieve a Level 6? • It is not common practice to teach to Level 6 (the Key Stage 3 curriculum) in school. The key focus is on securing children’s ability to use and apply their knowledge and skills independently. • Additional tests will be provided for a small minority of children in the same week as the standard SATs.

7. How are the English tests organised?

8. Reading Test • The 60 minutes reading test is externally marked and results are sent back to school. • The test consists of questions about three texts which increase in reading difficulty. • All the questions cover 7 different assessment foci. • There is no time limit for reading the texts anymore, children can begin answering immediately. • The questions are presented in a variety of ways: • Multiple choice • Short answers • Long answers

9. Sample Question • AF2 – literal questions Which of these materials were used to make the Earthship? Tick three. Bricks concrete old wood Tyres cement old bottles

10. Sample Question • AF 3 – deduce, infer or interpret information In his second letter (page 7), Norman’s father showed Norman how much money he was missing out on. Why did he do that? (up to 2 marks)

11. Sample Question • AF5 – explain and comment on writer’s use of language The writer could have said that the Earthship is cheap to run, but instead he wrote ‘dirt’ cheap. Why do you think he chose these words? (up to 2 marks)

12. Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar Test • It is a set of 50 questions which are presented in different styles: • multiple choice; • underlining phrases; • joining facts and • filling in tables. • The second part of the test is a spelling test.

13. Sample Grammar Questions • Circle all of the adjectives in this sentence: The old man walked down the rough cobbled street. • Add in a subordinating connective to this sentence: _______ Jenny was amazing at art, she preferred jazz. • Punctuate the sentence correctly with inverted commas. Wow, this place is amazing. James said. I can’t believe I have never been here before.

14. How can I support my child in Literacy? • Reading. • Question them: • Why has an author chosen specific words to describe a character or place? • How is the writer hinting that something isn’t quite right or how a character is feeling? • Spellings! Any words to practise their spelling patterns e.g. y and ies rules. • Use the revision guides to keep refreshing areas learnt.

15. How are the Maths tests organised?

16. How are the maths tests organised? Paper 1 and Paper 2 • Both 45 minutes long • Each paper has a range of ‘Shape, Space and Measures’, ‘Handling Data’ and ‘Number’ questions, many of which are presented as problems to solve. • Questions can be read to the children as long as the meaning of words are not inferred. • We encourage the children to make jottings on their paper and to show their working out. • Both papers are now non calculator.

17. Mental Arithmetic • Children complete a test played via a CD • Although the exercise tests the children’s ability to use mental strategies, they are allowed to make jottings • Questions assess the children’s understanding of all aspects of Maths, from number, place value to shape and space

18. Answers to the Sample Questions

19. How can I help my child? • Multiplication tables and their division opposites. Application to decimals for higher levels. e.g.: 7 x 8 = 56, 56 ÷ 7 = 8, 50 x 70 = 3500, 0.5 x 0.7= 0.35 • Use the past papers which we will send home to identify, together, areas which your child can work on. • Children to use the revision guide as an ‘active tool’ to support them, i.e. dip in and out to reinforce aspects that are being taught in school • Encourage your child to work mentally on mathematical problems, e.g.: • Which is the better deal 2 bags of pasta at £1.49 each or a big bag at £2.79? • Real-life measures in action, e.g. guessing the weight of objects, converting between kg and g, km and m using decimal notation

20. Why is transition successful? The majority of children transfer to Ilkley Grammar School. Where this is not the case, other, individual arrangements are made accordingly. Ilkley Grammar School: • Visits from IGS staff and pupils. • Visits to IGS: • ICT, Library and Learning Survey Day – Discovery Day 1 • Drama and arts day – Discovery Day 2 • Transition morning • Sports day • Strong communication links between the schools • IGS Parents’ Meeting – Wednesday 9th July 2014

21. Frequently Asked Questions • Are SATs scores used by IGS? • How are the tutor groups decided? • What if a child needs extra provision in the transition process?

22. How can I help my child with the transition? • Develop the children’s independence i.e. equipment, following instructions, taking the bus, packing bags etc. • Discuss the transition positively If you have any concerns, contact us or IGS: don’t share them with the children first.