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What do we mean by 'assessment'?

From Year 2 (age 7 years old) onwards in primary school and into secondary school, children across Britain are formally assessed using SATs (Standardised Assessment Tasks/Tests) and the results collated and published.  

The idea is that parents and the child’s school then have information (along with their teacher assessments) about how well a child is doing at a set time. 

Key stages

These relate to the section of the National Curriculum that is to be taught to various age groups. They relate to specific years in education from Reception (when a child enters school for the first time) to Year 11. There are different tests and assessments for each key stage. The key stages are:

• KS1 - Key Stage 1: ages 5-7, when children are in Years R (Reception), 1 and 2
• KS2 - Key Stage 2: ages 7-11,. Years 3 to 6 until the end of junior or primary school
• KS3 – Key Stage 3:  ages 11-14, Secondary school entry. Years 7 to 9 
• KS4 – Key Stage 4:  ages 14-16, Years 10 and 11.

During Key Stages 1–3 each child's progress in most subjects is assessed against eight levels so that school and parents can understand the level at which the child is working.

• Key Stage 1 (age 7): the level is based on teacher assessment and several tasks and tests.
• Key Stage 2 (age 11): the level will reflect the teacher assessment and the level achieved in the national tests taken at the end of May.
• Key Stage 3 (age 14): the level is based solely on teacher assessment.

At the end of each key stage, the school will send parents a report telling them about the level their child is working at. This will include the results for all the children in the same age group at the child's school (but not by name) and the national results for the previous year. This school report might show a different 'level' for tests than for the teacher assessment so it’s important to look at both to get an all-round view of progress. For example, a teacher may feel a child is doing better in a subject as a whole than in the parts of the subject covered by a test.

Teacher assessments are moderated by the local authority. This is to make sure teachers make consistent assessments of pupils’ work.

Assessment at Key Stage 1 - Most children are expected to achieve Level 2 at the end of this Key Stage. The teacher will assess their reading, writing, speaking and listening, maths and science. National Key Stage 1 tasks and test are carried out in the classroom. The tasks and tests can be taken at a time the school chooses. They last for less than three hours altogether. The tasks and tests cover reading, writing (including handwriting and spelling) and maths.

Assessment at Key Stage 2 - At this stage, by the time they are 11, most children are expected to achieve Level 4. Teacher assessments for this stage cover English, maths and science. National Key Stage 2 tests cover English, reading, writing (including handwriting) and spelling, maths (including mental arithmetic) and science. These tests are taken across the country on set days in mid-May, and last less than five and a half hours altogether.

Assessment at Key Stage 3 - At this stage, a 14 year old is expected to achieve Level 5. The levels are all based on teacher assessments covering, English, maths, science, history, geography, modern foreign languages. design and technology, information and communication technology, art and design, music, physical education, citizenship, religious education.

GCSEs - GCSE stands for General Certificate of Secondary Education. Here are some key points about GCSEs:

• They involve studying the theory of a subject, and some subjects will require carrying out investigative tasks and practical work.
• GCSE’s normally take five terms to complete, and are taken at school, full-time.
• There are 40 academic subjects and nine ‘applied’ subjects.
• GCSE’s can be taken as short courses that are then worth ‘half’ a GCSE.

AS- and A-levels - AS (Advance Subsidiary) and A (Advanced) level qualifications are historically taken in the sixth form if pupils are still attending school.

Entry requirements to take AS- and A-levels are:

• At least five GCSEs at A*-C. 
• Some subjects require at least a B to take them at A-level.
• Some educational establishments also require English and Maths (at C minimum) to go on to any A-level courses.

These courses can now be taken in a range of educational establishments – i.e. sixth-form colleges, further education colleges. Some further points:

• A-levels are made up of the AS-level and the A2. Each course is worth 50% towards the final A-level grade.
• Pupils can take AS-level courses as a stand-alone qualification or go on to take the second part A2, to achieve an A-level grade.
• There are around 80 possible AS- and A-level subjects.
• Most students take three or four AS-level subjects, then decide in the second year of the sixth form which to concentrate on.

Some useful links

National Curriculum
http://curriculum.qcda.gov.uk
Help for schools to design a curriculum that 'inspires and challenges all their learners'.

Ofsted: Parents and carers
http://www.ofsted.gov.uk/Ofsted-home/About-us/Parents-and-carers
Accessible information, including the answers to frequently asked questions. Ofsted also publishes reports on specific schools.

Advisory Centre for Education
www.ace-ed.org.uk
Advice line: 0808 800 5763
For free independent advice for all parents and carers of children educated in state schools.

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