Moving to Life Without Levels

Parents Information Session!

A new National Curriculum was introduced in September 2014, without the National Curriculum Levels.

Primary Schools were given 12 months to review this and all schools are expected to establish their own assessment systems to show attainment and progress!

What’s going on?

The Department for Education feels that:

Levels are too vague and complicated for parents.

They are not very good at helping them understand their child’s progress.

Levels system contribute to children developing a "fixed mindset" about their ability and potential for growth.

Why the change?

The new National Curriculum and old levels are simply just not in alignment!

Some schools tried it to map them together but it just proved impossible to do!

Ramping up of expectations... Each and every year group is expecting more!

Differences in teaching content

Why not teach the new National Curriculum but keep the levels?

KS1 Level 2 = National Expectation for Year 2Level 2 (c,b,a)...

KS2 Level 3 = National Expectation for Year 4 Level 3 (c,b,a)...

Level 4 = National Expectation for Year 6

Level 5 = Above Expectation

Level 6 = Significantly Above Expectation

From The Old System

Measures children’s attainment against AgeRelated Expectations (ARE) that are very specific foreach year group!

Within each year children will either be...

e = entering, d = developing or... s = secure!

Y1 (e,d,s), Y2 (e,d,s), Y3 (e,d,s)

Y4 (e,d,s), Y5 (e,d,s), Y6 (e,d,s)

To The New System

Teachers will use statements to assess pupils' progress and learning against the new curriculum (STAT Sheffield).

These statements will track progress over the year well as commenting on whether a child has made good progress.

They will give details of curriculum areas where they have achieved well and areas that need more development and support

However we will still be using tests and from summer 2016, there will be more challenging SATs tests in Years’ 2 & 6!

So how will children be awarded a grade from September 2015?

At BR we will continually assess your child and make judgements on their progress termly.

Alongside continuous teacher assessments, there will still be national assessments/tests :

Children will undergo a new baseline test in Reception (from September 2016)

the Phonics Screening Check in Year 1 the end-of-Key-Stage test in Year 2 (KS1 SATs) the end-of-Key-Stage test in Year 6 (KS2 SATs)

When will your child be assessed?

Provided is an example of how the new DFEsystem expects so much more of primaryschool children:

KS2 2015BR... RWM L4 Combined = 89.5%National RWM L4 Combined = 79.5%BR... RWM L5 Combined =39.5%National RWM L5 Combined =24%

Ramping up the Expectations

New expectations for 2016...

“Schools to achieve 85% at the new national

standard across all subjects combined.”

However BR 2015 at Level 4b+...

Reading: Level 4b+ 89.7%Maths: Level 4b+ 82.1%Writing: Level 4b+ 64.1%

Ramping up the Expectations

Last summer and this term has been a period of transition between the 2 systems.

Parents’ Evening has been brought forward so we can report these new levels to you sooner.

We will communicate whether your child is:a) Working below age related expectationsb) Entering age related expectationsc) Working within age related age expectationsd) Has met age related expectations

Reporting to Parents

Understand the implications of the change. Be aware of the challenge that we all face

and the expectations placed on young children has increased significantly, in every year group!

Continue to support your child’s learning in any way that you can!

Continue to encourage a positive attitude and a love of learning.

Liaise with teachers about the new levels!

How you can help?