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WRITTEN QUESTION TO THE MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
BY THE DEPUTY OF ST. JOHN
ANSWER TO BE TABLED ON TUESDAY 23RDMAY 2017
Question
Will the Minister provide an explanation for the re-introduction of Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) at primary-school level; and advise what purpose such tests serve and how they are conducive to assessing the overall progress of an individual student in education?
Answer
This year, in order to support teacher judgements and to build a complete picture of the progress pupils have made during the year, Year 6 pupils across the Island have completed Key Stage 2 English and mathematics standard assessment tests. This is a pilot taking place in all States schools and the majority of private schools.
The tests are being used because the curriculum changed in 2014 and, as a result of this, schools had to start using a new assessment system. Both elements of primary education are new, so it is important to double- check the effectiveness of our monitoring processes.
In Jersey, the tests are not being used in the same way as the UK. Ongoing assessment by teachers remains the main method of assessing how children are progressing. These tests will simply complement the work that teachers do with pupils every day, including the usual range of strategies that help build a complete picture of how pupils are progressing during the school year. The new tests will only be part of the child's overall progress report. Unlike in the UK, they will not be reported or listed separately.
The tests are low-key and schools have not been undertaking any additional preparations related to them. No SATs are being taken in Key Stage 1.