SATs Papers

SATs papers themselves have broadly remained the same, with English and Maths in KS1 SATs papers and KS2 SATs papers plus Science in KS3 SATs papers. It is within these broad areas however that the changes have been made. For instance in KS2 SATs papers, were you to have sat your Maths SATs paper in 2001 and been entered into a level 6 test, you co... uld have potentially sat six individual SATs papers. This is in contrast with 2009 where you would have only sat four individual SATs tests (level 6 SATs papers were no longer available). Further to this, in 2004 it was decided that KS1 SATs papers were no longer going to be formal SATs tests but were instead to be 'teacher assessments'. These could be based largely on past SATs papers but this change was suggested to have been a result of parent's feelings. Parents were not comfortable with their young children sitting formal SATs papers. Likewise, in 2009 it was decided that KS2 Science SATs papers were no longer going to be externally examined and would instead also become teacher assessments. In 2010 this was expanded to include the KS2 English Writing SATs paper. These changes all occurred within a reasonably small amount of time and together with KS3 SATs papers being completely removed from the National assessment tests in 2009 demonstrates just how much SATs have changed! KS2 SATs papers introduced the capability for the government to compare the relative performances of pupils, schools and LEAs over time. However, the significant changes to their structure does suggest that these comparisons could be quite questionable. The primary purpose of SATs papers was to create a standardised, consistent assessment for all pupils regardless of who their teacher was and indeed where their school was. However, it's arguable that their primary purpose has seemed to develop into feeding a school league table system, adding stress to pupils and unnecessary pressure onto teachers, detracting from their primary purpose in the classroom - to teach! From the pupil's ...Read More