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Hi Loulou and Guest 55,
Hope you don't mind me contributing to your interesting thread.
Not sure if you are aware but most schools don't think a lot about KS2 SATs and don't usually use KS3 Sats as the main GCSE predictor. Many private sector schools refuse to take KS2 Sats.
Many schools these days use the University of Durham CEM Centre and use the Yellis, MidYIS and ACIS online tests as the main GCSE and post 16 predictor. Yellis is the main test which is taken usually in year 10. In many schools they will usually provide this information to parents if requested. My wife (who is a GCSE and A level teacher) tells me that Yellis is by far the best predictor for GCSE grades. Mock exams often come too late in the cycle.
The other point is that some schools such as my sons grammar school (KE Five Ways in Birmingham) actually take the KS3 Sats one year early; the rationale being that it makes the work more challenging and means they can start the GCSE sylabus earlier (and hence give them a better chance of getting higher grades).
Information on CEM is available at http://www.cemcentre.org/RenderPage.asp?LinkID=10010000
Interestingly, the Univ of Durham set the Birmingham KE Foundation Grammar 11+ exams!
Hope you don't mind me contributing to your interesting thread.
Not sure if you are aware but most schools don't think a lot about KS2 SATs and don't usually use KS3 Sats as the main GCSE predictor. Many private sector schools refuse to take KS2 Sats.
Many schools these days use the University of Durham CEM Centre and use the Yellis, MidYIS and ACIS online tests as the main GCSE and post 16 predictor. Yellis is the main test which is taken usually in year 10. In many schools they will usually provide this information to parents if requested. My wife (who is a GCSE and A level teacher) tells me that Yellis is by far the best predictor for GCSE grades. Mock exams often come too late in the cycle.
The other point is that some schools such as my sons grammar school (KE Five Ways in Birmingham) actually take the KS3 Sats one year early; the rationale being that it makes the work more challenging and means they can start the GCSE sylabus earlier (and hence give them a better chance of getting higher grades).
Information on CEM is available at http://www.cemcentre.org/RenderPage.asp?LinkID=10010000
Interestingly, the Univ of Durham set the Birmingham KE Foundation Grammar 11+ exams!
Hi KenR,
You are welcome to join the debate - things are different in Buckinghamshire. The LA provides schools with the FFT [Fischer family trust] predictions which factor in KS2 tests and teacher predictions and a variety of other things.
Yes - some do CATs as well - and YELLIS - though not so popular with the Grammars.
Some schools do condensed KS3 as well -
Whatever measures are used a good school should be tracking all pupils to ensure they are reaching their potential.
You are welcome to join the debate - things are different in Buckinghamshire. The LA provides schools with the FFT [Fischer family trust] predictions which factor in KS2 tests and teacher predictions and a variety of other things.
Yes - some do CATs as well - and YELLIS - though not so popular with the Grammars.
Some schools do condensed KS3 as well -
Whatever measures are used a good school should be tracking all pupils to ensure they are reaching their potential.
Hi KenR and guest55
I feel there needs to be a new section on this forum to help answer secondary school issues especially as so many helpful parents have continued to contribute to this site despite the fact that their children have moved on to secondary school. Perhaps it could be called 'beyond 11+'. What do you think forumadmin?
The reason I asked the question was that at a recent parents evening my sons teachers told me his KS3 predictions in English and Maths which in both cases are below the level that he is currently working at in year 8. When I questioned this I was told that is because his predictions are bases on KS2 results and apparently predictions don't allow you to move from a 5 (KS2 maths) to a 7 (year 8 level based upon tests taken every 6 weeks) and a 4 (KS2) to a 6 (year
in English. Science (KS2 level 5) teachers were just suitably vague. I do find this odd but I guess that helps with the schools value added!
I know the school (a decent comp) uses Yellis but I never had a clue what that meant until you just explained it. I will read your link once I've finished writing this.
Thanks to both of you for your contributions. You have been alot more helpful and informative than the school. As you both have links with secondary schools perhaps you could tell me if it is normal for secondary schools to keep parents at such arms length. I'm sure my son would get more out of school if I knew exactly how to support him. As he has started to become hormonal he occaisionally grunts at me (if I am lucky) and I don't know if that means 'mum I need some help in working on this piece of work' or 'back off I want to be alone'
I feel there needs to be a new section on this forum to help answer secondary school issues especially as so many helpful parents have continued to contribute to this site despite the fact that their children have moved on to secondary school. Perhaps it could be called 'beyond 11+'. What do you think forumadmin?
The reason I asked the question was that at a recent parents evening my sons teachers told me his KS3 predictions in English and Maths which in both cases are below the level that he is currently working at in year 8. When I questioned this I was told that is because his predictions are bases on KS2 results and apparently predictions don't allow you to move from a 5 (KS2 maths) to a 7 (year 8 level based upon tests taken every 6 weeks) and a 4 (KS2) to a 6 (year
in English. Science (KS2 level 5) teachers were just suitably vague. I do find this odd but I guess that helps with the schools value added!I know the school (a decent comp) uses Yellis but I never had a clue what that meant until you just explained it. I will read your link once I've finished writing this.
Thanks to both of you for your contributions. You have been alot more helpful and informative than the school. As you both have links with secondary schools perhaps you could tell me if it is normal for secondary schools to keep parents at such arms length. I'm sure my son would get more out of school if I knew exactly how to support him. As he has started to become hormonal he occaisionally grunts at me (if I am lucky) and I don't know if that means 'mum I need some help in working on this piece of work' or 'back off I want to be alone'
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Bewildered
- Posts: 1806
- Joined: Mon Feb 20, 2006 2:29 pm
- Location: Berkshire
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forumadmin
- Site Admin
- Posts: 1188
- Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2004 4:31 pm
New “Beyond 11 plus” forum section
Dear All,
A new “Beyond 11 Plus” forum section has been created to deal with Post 11 plus Secondary School issues.
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... m.php?f=39
If you feel that some of the older threads can be moved to this new section please can you send a PM (private message) to the FORUMADMIN or an e-mail to the website.
Thank you.
FORUMADMIN
A new “Beyond 11 Plus” forum section has been created to deal with Post 11 plus Secondary School issues.
http://www.elevenplusexams.co.uk/forum/ ... m.php?f=39
If you feel that some of the older threads can be moved to this new section please can you send a PM (private message) to the FORUMADMIN or an e-mail to the website.
Thank you.
FORUMADMIN
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Clacton Dad
KS 2 Papers
Previos papers can be downloaded from
http://www.st-josephs-pickering.n-yorks ... papers.htm
http://www.emaths.co.uk/KS2SAT.htm
Also after 2004 can be optained from
http://www.sats-past-papers.co.uk/ at a cost.
Hope this helps.
http://www.st-josephs-pickering.n-yorks ... papers.htm
http://www.emaths.co.uk/KS2SAT.htm
Also after 2004 can be optained from
http://www.sats-past-papers.co.uk/ at a cost.
Hope this helps.
2004 & 2005 KS3 papers FREE on:
http://www.e-maths.co.uk/SAT.htm
They haven't put 2006 because some schools use these as 'mocks'
http://www.e-maths.co.uk/SAT.htm
They haven't put 2006 because some schools use these as 'mocks'
