Single Level Test (SLT’s)

What do they mean?What do they mean?

Where have the tests come from?Where have the tests come from?• Part of the ‘Making Good Progress Pilot’– Started in September 2007, finishing in September

2009– Pilot has 5 elements• Assessing Pupil Progress (APP) – New assessment

materials for teachers to use• Individual Tuition – Aimed at ‘stuck’ or ‘slow progress’

learners • Single Level Tests (SLT’s) – When ready testing• Progression Target – School target for pilot years• Progression Premium – School reward for bettering

target

Why Hamilton?Why Hamilton?

• Based on nomination of feeder schools – Philip Morant main ‘hub’ school

• All feeder schools into Philip Morant involved• Approximately 400 schools in the UK involved

in pilot

What has happened since the pilot What has happened since the pilot launch to all schools nationally?launch to all schools nationally?

• Assessing Pupil Progress (APP), adopted by all schools

• School targets now based on percentages of pupils making 2 levels progress and NOT percentages of pupils reaching level 4 and level 5 – Hamilton’s results for last year

• Reading – 98% 2 levels progress• Writing – 90% 2 levels progress• Maths – 95% 2 levels progress• Science – 92% 2 levels progress

• Testing at end of key stage 2 under investigation

Single Level Tests (SLT’s)Single Level Tests (SLT’s)

• What were the initial aims?– Short (under 1 hour in length)– Suitable for children in Key Stage 2 and Key Stage

3– Externally marked– Nationally recognised– Test children when ready, not at the end of every

year and not a ‘high stakes’ test at the end of year 6

– Possibility for level 6 in Key Stage 2

Single Level Tests (SLT’s)Single Level Tests (SLT’s)

• How do they work?– Papers only test 1 level, unlike SATs which test 3

levels in one paper– Children tested when teacher feels they are ready

based on professional judgement and a selection criteria

– Two testing windows in a year (December and June)– Your child may only be tested 2 times in 4 years

rather than at the end of every year under the previous system

Single Level Tests (SLT’s)Single Level Tests (SLT’s)

• What are children tested in?– Reading (10mins reading time, 40mins testing

time)– Writing (20mins shorter writing, 30mins longer

writing)– Maths (2 papers in 50mins – one with calculator,

one without. No separate mental arithmetic test)

Single Level Tests (SLT’s)Single Level Tests (SLT’s)

• What do they look like?– Reading

Level 3Level 4

SLT’sSLT’s

• What do they look like?– Writing

Level 3Level 4Level 5

SLT’sSLT’s

• What do they look like?– Maths

Level 3Level 4

Single Level Tests (SLT’s)Single Level Tests (SLT’s)• How will my child be selected?– Teachers assess pupils using APP

sheets and judgements are recorded on a termly basis

– Children judged to be in the ‘secure or high’ band within a level can then be entered for an SLT. This equates to level 3b or 3a, 4b or 4a, 5b or 5a

– If a pupil achieved a level 3 in year 2, then they will only have access to the level 4 papers and above

Level Fine Grade

5

5a

5b

5c

4

4a

4b

4c

3

3a

3b

3c

Single Level Tests (SLT’s)Single Level Tests (SLT’s)• Once selected what next?– Pupils and parents will be informed via letter– Details of tests entered for and the level of testing will

be included in the letter– Test dates will also be included (June 2009 – Week

beginning 15th June)– Pupils will meet as a group to discuss any questions– Pupils will be tested in the infant hall on specified

dates– Results published by individual letter to each pupil

when available

Single Level Tests (SLT’s) FAQ’sSingle Level Tests (SLT’s) FAQ’s

• Will my child be entered for tests in all subjects in each testing window?– No. They will only be entered when their teacher

has deemed them to be secure or better within a level

– Each pupil will be individually assessed in Reading, Writing and Maths to see if they are ready for testing. If not then they will not be entered

Single Level Tests (SLT’s) FAQ’sSingle Level Tests (SLT’s) FAQ’s

• Will my child still have to take part in the SATs?– Yes. At this point in time, year 6 children have to

undertake end of Key Stage national assessments. Government reports have confirmed that SATs will still take place in 2010. Beyond this point no one is sure.

Single Level Tests (SLT’s) FAQ’sSingle Level Tests (SLT’s) FAQ’s

• Are the SLT’s still valid?– Yes. They are allowing the government to assess

whether this new form of testing is accurate and how it might be a process that replaces SAT’s in the future.

Single Level Tests (SLT’s) FAQ’sSingle Level Tests (SLT’s) FAQ’s

• How often will my child be tested now?– The children are formally assessed during every

term by their teachers to inform progress.– Your child will have 2 nationally recognised testing

periods over the 4 years of Key Stage 2, rather than 4 testing periods as in the past. Therefore they will be nationally assessed less.

Single Level Tests (SLT’s) FAQ’sSingle Level Tests (SLT’s) FAQ’s

• Are SLT’s easier or harder than SATs– SLT’s test only 1 level in the paper, rather than 3,

as in the SATs. Teachers only enter pupils for SLT’s when they feel they are ready, therefore the child should succeed in attaining their level.