SATs & GCSEs – Special Arrangements

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SATs & GCSEs – Special Arrangements

What are SATs (Standard Assessment Tests)?

The Government has set Standard Assessment Tests for all 7, 11 and 14-year-old children across England and Wales. The tests are taken by pupils when they have completed the first 3 Key Stages of the National Curriculum.

	Subjects Tested
Key Stage 1 - 7 year olds	Key Stage 2 - 11 year olds	Key Stage 3 - 14 year olds
English	English	English
Maths	Maths	Maths
	Science	Science

The tests are used to give an indication of how well children are doing at school. They are not meant to be passed or failed. Formal teacher assessments at the end of each Key Stage also provide information about children’s progression in areas not tested.

The results are used by schools to help make judgements about how well their pupils are doing in comparison with other children at other schools. Teachers and parents use the results as part of the process of monitoring children’s progress and giving information about strengths and weaknesses.

What levels are children expected to achieve at the end of each Key Stage?

Progress in the National Curriculum is measured by levels. There are 8 of these in all with only the most able pupils achieving levels 7 and 8 when they are 14. Each National Curriculum subject has a careful description of the particular skills, knowledge and understanding that are required to progress from one level to the next. The table below gives an indication of the expected levels for each Key Stage. The levels are very broad and children with learning difficulties may take several years to achieve all the requirements of a particular level and progress to the next.

	Key Stage 1	Key Stage 2	Key Stage 3
	7 year olds	11 year olds	14 year olds
Exceptional	Level 4	Level 6	Level 8
Beyond expectations	Level 3	Level 5	Level 7
At expected level	Level 2a, 2b or 2c	Level 4	Levels 5 & 6
Below expectations	Level 1, W*	Level 3, 2a, 2b or 2c	Levels 4 & 3

* W represents children who are working towards, but who have not yet achieved, the standards needed for Level 1.

The Government are introducing plans to retest, at the end of Year 7, children who do not achieve Level 4 at the end of Key Stage 2. Children will also be assessed at the end of the Foundation Stage.

My child has Special Educational Needs. Does he have to take the tests?

All pupils are expected to be tested with the following exceptions.

Foundation Stage & Key Stage 1

The tests and tasks are designed so that the majority of pupils will be able to show their abilities at these stages.

Key Stage 2

Children will not be entered for the tests unless they have reached Level 3. Children achieving at lower levels will have their progress measured by teacher assessment only.

Key Stage 3

Children will only be entered if they have reached Level 4 in English and Level 3 in Mathematics and Science. Children achieving at lower levels will have their progress measured by teacher assessment only.

Children who usually receive extra help in the classroom as a result of their special educational needs, regardless of whether they have a Statement, may receive additional support with their SATs as school resources permit. A variety of special arrangements can be made and parents should talk to the class teacher or the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator about the sort of help that might be useful.

Special arrangements are made to enable children to do their best, not to give an unfair advantage over others. Extra help with reading for instance will not be given in tests to measure reading skills.

Who do I talk to about organising special arrangements for my child?

If the school has not already spoken to you about special arrangements, it is advisable to start talking to your child’s class teacher or the SENCO at the beginning of the Autumn term of the SATs year, as schools need time to research the options available. SATs are Government tests and there are slight changes to the regulations every year. The Headteacher has final responsibility for authorising special arrangements, but Heads of Departments, the school’s assessment co-ordinator and the SENCO may also be involved in the decision. Schools are regularly inspected to ensure that tests are properly administered.

How will I know what has been arranged?

The school should inform you of their decision in good time. If you are unhappy with the outcome you should discuss your concerns with the Headteacher in the first instance. If you remain dissatisfied appeal is through the Head of Curriculum and Effectiveness in Devon County Council.

What does “disapplication” mean?

In some very exceptional circumstances children may not have to follow the National Curriculum nor take the tests and this is called disapplication. Children who have not followed the programme of study because they have lived in another country or because they have been very seriously ill for a long period of time and missed a large amount of schooling can be given a temporary disapplication that lasts 6 months. The Headteacher makes the decision following careful negotiation with the parent. However, the Government, Devon Local Authority and schools take the view that children have a right of access to the National Curriculum; the SATs testing is part of that entitlement. Across the whole of Devon there are very few pupils who have been disapplied. On a long-term basis this can only be achieved by having the disapplication written into a child’s Statement of Special Educational Needs.

When are the tests held and what subjects will be tested?

Foundation Stage

During the final term of a child’s reception year, the government is planning to assess progress against children’s early learning goals.

Key Stage 1

The tests are spread over several weeks during the summer term. They are presented in an informal way and altogether take less than 3 hours. Reading, writing, handwriting, spelling and mathematics are tested. Teacher assessments are also made in these subject areas and Science.

Key Stage 2

There is more formality about these testing arrangements and many schools help children to prepare by giving them practice test sessions and providing help with revision. The tests are spread over a week in May and last for about 5 hours in total. Besides reading, writing, handwriting, spelling and mathematics, mental arithmetic and science are tested at the end of this Key Stage. Teacher assessments are also made in these areas.

Key Stage 3

At this stage tests may be quite formal with the aim of giving children a foretaste of what it will be like when they come to sit public examinations. The tests span a week in May and last for about 7 hours in total. There are different tiers of tests and schools make a decision about which pupils should be entered for which tier. English (including reading, writing and studying a Shakespeare play), mathematics, mental arithmetic and science are tested. Teacher assessments are made in English, mathematics, science, history, geography, a modern foreign language, design and technology, information technology, art, music and physical education.

If my child is not working with other children of the same age, when will he take the SATs?

Children take the tests when they finish the programme of study for that Key Stage. If in exceptional circumstances children have moved on a year early or repeated a year at sometime in their school career, they take the tests at the same time as the group in which they are currently being taught.

How can I help my child do his best in the SATs?

The school will teach your child what they need to know and help them prepare for the tests. Teachers will welcome your support in the following ways:-

hearing your child read regularly whilst they are still developing reading skills
helping your child with any homework set
spending time with your child doing activities you both enjoy to develop their confidence
by being positive, encouraging and re-assuring about your child’s achievements
by taking an interest in what your child is being taught throughout the year.

My child is becoming very upset by the SATs. What should I do?

Every effort is made to make SATs a positive experience for children. It is useful practice for public examinations at 16 and for later life. A small amount of stress is good for us. If you have concerns you should discuss these with your child’s class teacher or the pastoral staff in secondary schools who will help you reassure your child.

When will I receive the results?

You will be told your child’s results towards the end of the school year. At the same time you will also receive information about the percentages of pupils who achieve the range of different levels in your child’s year at that school. Tables of Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 4 results for schools across Devon, are published in a local newspaper and the national press.

Is my child eligible for special arrangements for GCSE?

If your child receives additional support during the week as a result of their learning difficulties they may be entitled to special arrangements at GCSE level. Pupils who received this help with their SATs will often benefit from special arrangements at the next stage. It is the examination boards that decide what can be allowed and the Joint Council for General Qualifications publish guidance for examining centres (usually schools) every year. The examining boards consider each case and may require professional advice from of the following: an educational psychologist, a specialist advisory teacher in cases where a child has a visual or hearing impairment, a clinical medical officer (school doctor) or a teacher who has an additional qualification that allows them to make assessments of children for this purpose. The decision about the type of support takes account of the strategies that are in place on a day to day basis to support a pupil’s learning. Pupils should not be at an unfair advantage over others but should receive help to demonstrate their best. Examination boards are concerned that any special arrangement agreed should not compromise the validity of the examination.

Who should I talk to about special arrangements at GCSE level?

Parents and pupils should discuss these issues very carefully when they are considering options in Year 9. There are a range of courses that can be followed in Key Stage 4, including GNVQs, Certificates of Education that offer more flexibility in the ways they are assessed than GCSEs. These courses may be more suitable for pupils with special educational needs. An agreement with the examination board about special arrangements should therefore be in place from the start of the course. Many GCSE subjects are undertaken on a modular basis with examinations throughout the two-year period of study.

Does my child need a Statement to get special arrangements?

No, a Statement is not necessary but the school does have to make a case by submitting evidence from a relevant professional. (see above)

Who contacts the examination boards?

The Headteacher or Principal has overall responsibility for ensuring that examination procedures are correctly followed. In practice, schools usually have an Examinations Officer who takes responsibility for this and who makes any request for special arrangements. You can ask for certain evidence to be submitted on your behalf if you wish. The school should inform you of what has been agreed and the necessary arrangements that have been made. If you are unhappy with the outcome you should discuss your concerns with the Examinations Officer.

Will the fact that my child has received special arrangements appear on the certificate?

There are circumstances in which certificates will be endorsed to indicate that a candidate has received additional support. Parents should check with the examination officer if there are particular concerns.

Who can I contact for independent guidance?

For independent guidance contact The Parent Partnership. This project is a network of people to help parents of children with special educational needs. They also provide training courses which can help parents gain a better understanding of SEN.

North Devon: Gillian Livings - 01271 866835
East Devon:
Mid West Devon: Cathy Butland - 01566 784986
South Devon: Maddalena Gittins - 01752 872799

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