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Feb 27, 2020 · The move paves the way for the removal of the national curriculum assessments at the end of key stage 1 from 2022/23 – commonly known as SATs – when pupils are aged six- or seven-years-old.
They will now be optional. Unlike KS2 SATs, KS1 SATs don't have to be administered according to a nationally-set timetable in a specific week. Schools are free to manage the timetable and will aim to administer the tests in the classroom in a low-stress, low-key way; usually in the month of May.
- 1. Summary
- 2. Changes for 2023 to 2024
- 3. Important dates
- 4. Optional national curriculum tests
- 5. Test participation
- 6. Test administration
- 7. Teacher assessment
- 8. Reporting to parents
- 9. Further information
1.1 About this guidance
This guidance sets out information about how schools can access and use the optional end of key stage 1 (KS1) national curriculum tests for the academic year 2023 to 2024. While the tests are completely optional, this guidance provides information about how schools can use the tests, including when they will be available and how to get the most out of them. This guidance is produced by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA), an executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE), and is relevant until the end of the academic year 2023 to 2024.
1.2 Who is this guidance for?
This guidance is for: all staff who would like to use the optional KS1 tests headteachers and senior leadership teams
1.3 Legal status
The end of KS1 national curriculum assessments are now non-statutory and this guidance is for information only.
2.1 Assessments at the end of KS1
Following the Government’s response to the 2017 consultation on primary assessment, on 20 July 2022, DfE announced that assessments at the end of KS1 would become non-statutory from the academic year 2023 to 2024. The reception baseline assessment (RBA) will replace the end of KS1 assessments as the baseline for cohort level primary progress measures. It became statutory in the academic year 2021 to 2022, and the reception cohort from that year reach the end of KS1 in the academic year 2023 to 2024. STA intends to continue to develop and supply guidance and materials for optional, end of KS1 tests from the academic year 2023 to 2024. These will include optional tests of English reading, English grammar, punctuation and spelling and mathematics. Maintained schools and academies will receive paper copies of the KS1 tests for all subjects unless they decline test papers using the Primary Assessment Gateway (PAG). Schools who decline test materials will still be able to download these materials from the PAG. We will also continue to make the end of KS1 teacher assessment frameworks available for optional use. The aim of the optional assessments is to give schools access to test papers to support in the measurement of pupil achievement and to help identify where their pupils need additional support as they transition into key stage 2 (KS2). The tests can also be used to inform teacher assessment judgements using the optional teacher assessment frameworks. The government encourages schools to administer the optional tests and teacher assessments, but there is no requirement to use these, or report results to parents or local authorities, and they will not be used for school accountability purposes. Schools who do not use the optional tests and teacher assessments do not have to report this to STA.
3.1 Important dates for 20233.2 Important dates for 20244.1 Overview of tests
The optional KS1 tests are designed to assess pupils’ knowledge and understanding of the KS1 programmes of study. Schools can choose to use these to support in the measurement of pupil attainment. The optional KS1 tests consist of: English reading Paper 1: combined reading prompt and answer booklet English reading Paper 2: reading booklet and reading answer booklet mathematics Paper 1: arithmetic mathematics Paper 2: reasoning English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 1: spelling English grammar, punctuation and spelling Paper 2: questions The optional KS1 tests are not designed to be strictly timed. We recommend that teachers use their discretion to decide if pupils need a rest break during any of the tests or whether, if appropriate, to stop a test early. English reading test There are 2 English reading papers. Both papers contain a selection of texts that are designed to increase in difficulty. They include a mixture of text types. Paper 1 consists of a combined reading prompt and answer booklet. The test takes approximately 30 minutes. Paper 2 consists of an answer booklet and a separate reading booklet. It contains more challenging texts than Paper 1. The test takes approximately 40 minutes. Mathematics test The mathematics test comprises 2 components, presented to pupils as 2 test papers. Paper 1: arithmetic consists of a single test paper and takes approximately 20 minutes. Paper 2: reasoning consists of a single test paper and takes approximately 35 minutes. The paper includes a practice question and 5 aural questions. After the aural questions, the time allowed for the remainder of the paper should be approximately 30 minutes. English grammar, punctuation and spelling test The English grammar, punctuation and spelling test includes 2 papers. Paper 1: spelling consists of a test transcript to be read by the test administrator and an answer booklet for pupils to write 20 spellings. The test paper takes approximately 15 minutes. Paper 2: a combined question and answer booklet focusing on pupils’ knowledge of grammar, punctuation and vocabulary. The test paper takes approximately 20 minutes.
4.2 Practice test materials
Practice test materials are available to use alongside, or help teachers prepare for, the optional tests. These include past versions of KS1 national curriculum tests, mark schemes and test administration instructions. Past versions of the modified tests (excluding braille) are also available as practice test materials.
4.3 Test frameworks
Test frameworks are available for each test. Although written for test developers, these may also be of interest to schools. Teachers should not use the test frameworks to guide teaching and learning. They do not provide information on how schools should teach the national curriculum. STA will continue to use the test framework to develop the optional tests.
5.1 Participating pupils
There are no requirements for how schools use the optional KS1 tests, or which pupils take them. The tests have been designed for pupils in year 2 who have completed the relevant KS1 programme of study, are moving on to KS2 and will reach the age of 7 by the end of the academic year 2023 to 2024. The optional tests have not been designed for pupils who are working at the pre-key stage 1 standards or would be assessed using the engagement model.
5.2 Access arrangements
The optional KS1 tests are intended to assess pupils’ abilities in a fair and comparable way. They are designed so that most pupils with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) can participate using the standard versions. However, a small number of pupils may need additional arrangements. Access arrangements are adjustments that schools can make to support specific pupils. If the school chooses to administer the tests under test conditions, the support provided should be primarily based on normal classroom practice.
6.1 Administering the tests
The optional tests are intended to support classroom practice, and there are no requirements for how these should be administered. However, to maximise the value of the tests and administer them in line with previous years, schools can follow the test administration guidance, which will be published in March. STA will also provide test administration instructions alongside the optional KS1 tests. The tests are designed to be taken at the end of the KS1 programme of study. It is suggested that schools administer the tests during May, to help inform the support that can be given to pupils on their transition to KS2 ahead of time.
6.2 Marking the tests
The optional KS1 tests are marked by schools using mark schemes that will be available on the PAG from Wednesday 1 May. We recommend that tests are marked by a member of staff familiar with the pupil, as marking requires professional judgement about which responses are correct.
6.3 Using test results
The purpose of the optional tests is to support the evaluation of pupil achievement and help schools to understand where pupils need additional help as they transition into KS2. Raw score to scaled score conversion tables and compensatory marks for spelling will be available for schools to download from the PAG on Thursday 16 May. They will also be published on GOV.UK on Monday 3 June. Teachers can use these to convert pupils’ raw scores into scaled scores to see whether each pupil has met the expected standard in the tests. The use of scaled scores enables accurate comparisons of pupil performance over time. Schools are not required to report results to parents or local authorities, and they will not be used for school accountability purposes.
All teacher assessment is now non-statutory at the end of KS1. Schools are encouraged to continue to use the end of KS1 teacher assessment framework to support classroom practice. The non-statutory teacher assessment guidance will support schools with the delivery of non-statutory teacher assessment.
8.1 Annual reports
Headteachers of maintained schools, including maintained special schools, must prepare annual reports for every pupil’s parents. Details of this are outlined in section 7 of the Assessment and reporting arrangements (Year 1 phonics screening check). Schools are encouraged to provide additional information to parents at the end of KS1, as their child transitions into KS2. Schools may wish to include results of the optional tests in their annual reports to parents, as part of the information on the pupil’s achievements and general progress. Academies’ requirements are set out in their funding agreements. Further information relating to data handling can be found in section 8 of the Assessment and reporting arrangements (Year 1 phonics screening check).
9.1 Useful websites and links
Primary Assessment Gateway www.primaryassessmentgateway.education.gov.uk Get Information about Schools www.get-information-schools.service.gov.uk Optional key stage 1 tests Collection available at www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum-assessments-key-stage-1-tests, including: Optional KS1 tests: test administration guidance Optional KS1 tests: access arrangements guidance National curriculum tests: practice materials Collection available at www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum-assessments-practice-materials, including: past papers and mark schemes scaled score conversion tables
9.2 General enquiries
For general enquiries about the assessment and reporting arrangements at KS1, contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013 or email assessments@education.gov.uk.
9.3 Message us
For enquiries relating to KS1 access arrangements to meet a pupil’s specific needs, schools can use the ‘Message us – access arrangements’ form which can be found on the PAG.
Sep 12, 2016 · Added 2023 key stage 1 test materials and scaled score conversion tables. 22 May 2023. Added remaining 2023 key stage 2 test papers and mark schemes (mathematics). Removed 2018 key stage 2...
- Standards And Testing Agency
This guidance sets out the statutory requirements for key stage 1 (KS1) national curriculum assessment and reporting for the 2020/21 academic year. It is produced by the Standards and Testing...
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Every Past SATs Paper - Instant Free Download With Answers. 1999 to 2024. 100% Free. New KS1 Year 2 SATs Tests from 2016 to be scrapped after 2023 (becomes optional). New Sats tests were introduced in 2016 in English and Maths and are set to be scrapped once again in 2018.
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