The issue of who is and who isn’t included in KS2 measures is still causing major headaches for many, which is understandable because it’s a bloody minefield. With SATS looming, and no doubt many senior leaders already thinking about those not so distant headline measures, I thought I’d attempt to provide some clarity. There is, of course, a chance I’ve got some of this wrong the DfE have a habit of changing things – but it’s worth a try.
Attainment
Attainment can be broken down into two main measures: 1) threshold measures (% attaining expected and high standards) and 2) average scaled scores.
1) Pupils included in and excluded from threshold measures
All pupils are included in this measure initially. Pupils can be discounted if they are recent arrivals from overseas, are EAL and from a non-English speaking country. Such pupils are identified during the checking exercise in September, using the results list sent via tables checking website. Consequently, due to timing, discounted pupils are included in unvalidated data but are removed from later, validated data releases including the performance tables. All other pupils are included in the measure including pupils that were absent, below standard of tests, or disapplied. Pupils that achieve 100+ (or who have a TA of EXS in writing) are deemed to have met the expected standard; those that achieve a score of 110+ (or have a TA of GDS in writing) are deemed to have met the high standard. They are the only pupils in the numerator. All other pupils are in the denominator with exception of any discounted pupils. Again, discounting does not take effect until validated data release.
2) average scaled scores
Only pupils with a scaled score of 80+ (ie with a test score) are included in this measure. Nominal scores assigned to pre-key stage assessments (59-79) are only used in the progress measure. Nominal scores are not used in average scaled score calculation.
Progress
This is the real minefield. Essentially, to be included in the progress measure a pupil needs a start point (KS1 result) and an end point (KS2 score). The score can be a scaled score from a test or a nominal score assigned to a below/pre-key stage assessment; or any teacher assessment in the case of writing (because there are no test scores in writing).
Scaled scores range from 80 to 120.
Nominal scores assigned to the main writing teacher assessments are as follows:
WTS = 90
EXS = 103
GDS = 113
Note: these may change, but seems unlikely as they were kept the same for 2017.
Nominal scores are also assigned to pupils working below the standard of the reading and maths tests (i.e. pupils that have a B code), or working below the standard of the writing frameworks. There is particular confusion around the BLW code, which is usually accompanied by a p-scale, but may also be used for non-SEND pupils that are very low attaining (e.g. EAL pupils), in which case BLW is accompanied by NOTSEN code. The full list of nominal scores for pupils below standard of tests (or writing assessment framework) are as follows:
BLW P1-3 = 59
BLW P4 = 61
BLW P5 = 63
BLW P6 = 65
BLW P7 = 67
BLW P8 = 69
BLW NOTSEN = 71
BLW P4 = 61
BLW P5 = 63
BLW P6 = 65
BLW P7 = 67
BLW P8 = 69
BLW NOTSEN = 71
PKF = 73
PKE = 76
PKG = 79
N (HNM/EXS TA and pupil took the test but did not achieve enough marks for scaled score) = 79
N (HNM/EXS TA and pupil took the test but did not achieve enough marks for scaled score) = 79
Note: these are somewhat different to the more simplified nominal scores used in 2016. They may change again but it seems unlikely.
So, if a pupil has a) a KS1 start point, and b) and KS2 score – either scaled score from tests or nominal score assigned to teacher assessment (as detailed above) – they will be included in progress measures.
Those that are excluded from progress measures are as follows:
No KS1 result
pupils without a start point are not included. They are not assigned a nominal baseline.
Absent (A code)
Pupils that have an A code – are absent from tests or have long periods of absence – are excluded from progress measures even if they also have a pre-key stage assessment. Please refer to ARA for more detail on this code – link below.
Disapplied (D code)
Pupils that are disapplied are also excluded from progress measures. This is a commonly misunderstood term, confused with ‘below standard of test’ (often referred to as ‘disapplied from tests’). This code should only be used in cases where a pupil has been disapplied from the national curriculum and it is therefore not possible to make a teacher assessment. A disapplied pupil cannot therefore have a pre-key stage assessment. I have seen numerous examples of pupils coded as D, that should have had a B code and accompanying PKS assessment. Disapplied should be a rare occurrence in mainstream settings. Please refer to ARA for more detail on this code – link below.
Missing result (M code)
If the result is missing, the pupil is excluded from progress measures.
Unable to access test (U code)
These are pupils that are working at the standard of the test but are unable to access them due to a disability or severe emotional trauma. Pupils with a U code are excluded from progress measures. Please refer to ARA for more detail on this code – link below.
Disregard (Q code)
This code is used in cases of maladministration. Again, a pupil with this code will be excluded from progress measures.
If you want to model examples, use the DfE pupil ready reckoner tool, which can be downloaded here.
Note about the ‘Progress Loophole of Despair’
In 2016, pupils that had a teacher assessment of HNM or EXS, that sat the test but failed to achieve enough marks to get the lowest scale score of 80 were excluded from measures. This meant that many schools benefitted from pupils scoring below the minimum mark threshold because such pupils were omitted from overall progress scores rather than be included with a nominal score. In 2017, this loophole was closed by assigning a nominal score of 79 in such cases (see above). There were cases in 2017 of pupils with a teacher assessment of HNM not sitting the test, who did not achieve a test score but were not assigned a nominal score either, and were therefore excluded from progress measures. This is because HNM pupils were only assigned a nominal score (79) if they sat the test and failed to score, not if they didn’t sit the test, which is clearly another loophole. Please note that pupils with an HNM assessment should sit the tests unless there is good reason for them not to do so (refer to section 5.2, p18-19 of Assessment and Reporting Arrangements (pupils unable (U) to access tests).
Think that’s pretty much everything.
Hope it’s useful.