Foundation Stage Profile and Baseline Assessment

 

In 2002 statutory baseline assessments were replaced by the foundation stage profile. Some schools continue to use both. The purpose of base-line assessment (usually carried out during the first term in the reception year) was to enable the reception teacher to plan their teaching to match individual children's needs and eventually to judge the child's progress against this initial baseline assessment. The basic skills of speaking and listening, reading, writing, mathematics and personal and social development are assessed.
The Foundation Stage Profile has 13 summary scales covering the six areas of learning, which have to be completed for each child in state education by the end of his or her time in the foundation stage.
The areas of assessment are:

• Personal, social and emotional development (how the child works, interacts and cooperates with others)
• Communication, language and literacy (listening, speaking, reading and writing skills)
• Mathematical development (focuses on number, basic calculations, shape, space, measures and mathematical language)
• Knowledge and understanding of the world (including investigations, designing and making, Information Technology, cultures and beliefs)
• Physical development (movement, sense of space, health and bodily awareness, the use of tools and equipment)

Assessment takes place throughout the year, and is based on on-going teacher observations. Parental comments, as well as observations by other practitioners including nursery staff may be taken into consideration. Results are reported to the DfES.

The foundation stage profile has been criticised by OFSTED for being overly bureaucratic and time consuming, a tick box exercise that does not adequately prepare children for Year 1 and too complicated for parents.

Key Stages and Tests

Children in English state (maintained) schools must follow the national curriculum. This is intended to ensure a broad and balanced education split into 8 levels, with the most able children expected to attain level 8 by the end of KS3. P levels exist for those children unlikely to achieve a level one. The National curriculum subjects are: art and design, citizenship, design technology, English, Geography, history, ICT, mathematics, modern foreign languages, music, PE, science, RE, careers education, work-related learning, PSHE. Not all subjects are studied throughout. There are four key stages and the children are tested at the end of each key stage but only in the core subjects.

Standard Attainment Tests (SATs)
Children take Standard Attainment Tests (SAT`s) when they are 7, 11 and 14, and national examinations, often, though not exclusively, GCSE`s, at the age of 16 (end of key stage 4). SATs are statutory. State schools must report their results however, it is possible for a child to be disapplied from the tests. Many independent schools take SATS but are not obliged to report the results.

Key Stage One (Y1-Y2)
Covers the 5-7 age group. Schools have flexibility over when and how the tests in reading, writing (including spelling and handwriting) and maths are administered. The average 7 year old is expected to achieve a level 2. This is not a pass/fail situation; the tests are designed to indicate whether a child is working at, above or below the target level. The tests can be taken at a time to suit the school and are not reported separately but are used to inform teacher assessment of the child. Teacher assessment looks at speaking, listening and science skills as well as the areas covered by the tests.

Key Stage Two (Y3-Y6)
This covers children aged 7 to 11. Children are tested in English, maths and science, at age 11 (Y6), prior to the move to senior school,. The results are reported to the DfES and to parents. The average 11 year old is expected to achieve a level 4.

Key Stage Three (Y7-Y9)
Tests are taken in Y9, at senior school, when a child is typically aged 14. Children are tested in English, maths and science and the results are reported to the DfES and to parents. Teachers assess pupils in these areas plus art, citizenship, design technology, geography, history, ICT, MFL, music, PE. The target level at KS3 is level 5, with the most able achieving a level 8. There are wide variations reported in the levels achieved at this stage. Very few independent schools take key stage 3 tests, most will have assessed the child at 11+ or 13 + via The Common Entrance examination (see below).

Key Stage Four/GCSE (Y10-Y11)
Most children embark on a two-year GCSE course (in some schools pupils sit some GCSEs at the end of Y10). Children are usually encouraged to take a broad base of subjects including: English (usually language and literature); maths; science (biology, chemistry, physics - a combination of one, two or all three in a guise of awards: single, dual etc); a modern foreign language (no longer compulsory) - most schools offer French and often a choice of German, or Spanish but always check with a school first; a design technology subject; humanities (history Geography, RE), and the Arts (visual and performing). Often business/vocationally orientated subjects such as business studies, economics, media studies, and ICT are offered. Social sciences: psychology, sociology are popular in some schools as are Latin, Greek and Classical studies. Virtually all GCSE's have a compulsory coursework element worth between 20% and 100% of the marks (some independent schools have opted to follow the IGCSE courses in some subjects as there isn't a coursework element). Non-GCSE courses such as PE (which is offered at GCSE), games and Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) or similar, plus citizenship continue to be followed.

Children usually make their GCSE - option choices in Y9 following extensive consultation with the school, their parents and teachers. At this stage the proposed level of studying in the uk will be discussed. Most subjects offer two tiers of entry, foundation and higher. Foundation level study is aimed at grades C-G and Higher Grades A*-D. Most schools and colleges will expect a student to have achieved at least a grade B in any subject to be studied at A level.

IGCSE
The International GCSE (IGCSE) is becoming an increasingly popular option in independent schools. The IGCSE offers more rigour and depth, than GCSE enabling the more able to be stretched while still meeting the needs of others. IGCSE can be awarded without coursework ie by 100% examination although coursework options exist. Exams are graded in the same way as GCSEs: Foundation targets grades C-G and Higher grades A*-D. Many people consider the IGCSE to be more akin to the old style O level than GCSE. For example maths IGCSE has a strong emphasis on algebra and introduces calculus, in preparation for A level maths.

Further Study

A levels
All A levels are now unitised rather than based on a final exam. An A level course usually consists of a mix of AS awards taken at the end of the first year of A level study and A2 courses in the second year. Students can choose when to cash in their awards.

Advanced Subsidiary (AS) Award
Still a separate qualification that can be taken in the first year of A levels but a recent change means that they will no longer count towards your final A level grade. Students often take these as an additional subject if they are uncertain about A level choices as they can be dropped at the end of year 12.

A2
This is the second year of A level study. Success at A2 should enable a student to matriculate for university study.

IB
A levels are often criticised for not offering a broad base of study post 16. Some schools offer the IB as an alternative to A levels. A few schools (in the independent sector) offer only the IB. A handful of schools in the UK, usually those offering an American style curriculum offer IB from a younger age. The International Baccalaureate also known as International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP) is for students aged 16 – 18; IBMYP, the middle years programme of the International Baccalaureate is for children aged 11-16 and IBPYP is the Primary years programme of the International Baccalaureate - for children aged 3 to 11. A recent addition is the IBCP, the International Baccalaureat Careers Programme, offered by a small number of schools as an alternative to the IB Diploma.