Year 6 SATs results show a slight improvement

Great news! Results for the Standard Attainment Tests (SATs) have shown a slight improvement, whereby 65% of Year 6 pupils met the expected standard, compared with 64% last year and 61% in 2017.

However, the proportion of pupils reaching the expected level in maths showed a stronger improvement compared to reading. This year, 79% of pupils met the expected standard in maths, an increase from 75% in 2018. School Standards Minister Nick Gibb said: “These results show the majority of pupils are leaving primary school ready to deal with the challenges of secondary school. It’s testament to the hard work and dedication of teachers that we have seen results rising over time despite the bar of expectation having been raised.”

Despite the fact that the marks needed to reach this year’s expected standard in reading remained the same (28 marks out of 50) and lowered in spelling, punctuation and grammar (SPAG), whereby pupils needed 36 out of 70 compared with 38 marks required last year, student attainment in reading fell and SPAG remained the same. Reading levels fell from 75% to 73%. In addition, SPAG as well as teacher-assessed scores for writing were unchanged at 78%. Nick Brook, deputy general secretary of school leaders' union NAHT, said the results did not reflect "the full picture of the child's strengths, their talents, or indeed their progress during primary school".

Kumon School's Project Manager, Timothy Corns, said: "Where Kumon can really help student's working towards their SATs is through individualised study. At Kumon, work is tailored to a student's ability with each student working at their own pace, progressing only once they have a firm understanding of a topic, rather than having to move on to a new topic with the rest of the class. This ensures there are no gaps in a student's knowledge so when it comes to sitting these exams, a student feels confident and assured in their ability."

Whilst at Kumon we do not follow the national curriculum, our students are well supported in these key areas which assist their learning in school, and their ability to do well in these exams. Through daily study our students further develop stamina, resilience, and a 'can do' attitude towards their work.