Today’s Education in the Media blog looks at an Ofqual review into Key Stage 2 tests.
Ofqal report on SATs
On Thursday, 5 October, Ofqual published an evaluation of the Standards and Testing Agency’s approach to developing the new Key Stage 2 reading and maths tests, alongside a review of evidence relating to the accessibility of the 2016 Key Stage 2 reading test.
The report noted that the 2016 reading test seemed to be more challenging than the sample materials provided in advance and some pupils did not finish the test.
The Daily Telegraph, TES and Schools Week and the Daily Mail have all written on this, and were generally critical of the test’s difficulty.
It is important to note that the changes made were part of the government’s plan to make the tests more rigorous, to reflect the new curriculum.
A Department for Education spokesperson said:
A good primary education lays the foundations for success at secondary school and beyond. This year’s key stage 2 results show that our curriculum reforms are starting to raise standards. It is important to have an assessment system that helps to drive up academic standards.
That’s why we have reformed the primary assessment system in England to free up teachers to educate and inspire young children, while holding schools to account in a proportionate and effective way.
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