Revision & Exams

At the age of eleven the tests are for Key Stage 2 of the National Curriculum of which there are four Key Stages and eight Levels. It’s not an easy subject to get to grips with, but teachers in all state schools talk the language of the National Curriculum as though it's their Bible.

To find out about it, there is a site dedicated to informing interested parents at www.parents.dfes.gov.uk. Click on the Curriculum and Assesment button at the top for a menu.

SATS
At the age of 14, children reach Key Stage 3 and take the SATS (Standard Assessment Tests). By now tests are getting serious, even if they’re merely designed to give parents and teachers an indication of how their children are progressing.

The key factor is that, at this stage, the question about which GCSEs to take will have been raised, and the results of these SATS could be important in deciding what direction a pupil is heading in.

Consequently, there’s a need for parents to get more involved at this point. A very useful document outlining all aspects of the choices available to 14 year olds is on the DfEE site.