Primary School Assessment Changes (KS1 and KS2)

Primary School Assessment Changes (KS1 and KS2) Discussion about the changes to the UK’s GCSE system has been all over  the pages of our newspapers for months. However, less is being said about  the similarly significant changes to our primary school education system. To  combat this, we present our myth-busting guide to what's changing for those  who are under 11. KS1 (key stage 1) students are aged 5 to 7, in schools across England and Wales KS1 is normally Year 1 and Year 2. KS2 (key stage 2) students are aged 7 - 11, normally known as Year 3, Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6. So, what are the major primary school assessment reforms? - All schools will give children a baseline assessment in reception, to  allow Ofsted to judge schools on the progress that students make as  well as on their test results. - Assessments before the end of Year 6 will be teacher marked, not  externally marked. - The government will set ‘performance description indicators’, and  schools will use these to assess students instead of the levels (such as  4a or 6c) that they use at the moment. - At the end of Year 6, test results will be in the form of a ‘precise scaled  score’, where 100 is the expected score. These scores will be reported  to parents, who will also be told how their child has performed in  comparison to the average for the school, the local area and students  nationally. - End of Year 6 tests will be more challenging ‘So when will my child be tested, and what in?’ we hear you cry. Your child will  sit the following tests throughout their time at primary school: - A reception baseline test - A phonics check at the end of Year 1 End of Key Stage 1 tests set by the government but marked by  teachers in: - Mathematics - Reading - Writing (including grammar, punctuation and spelling) - Teacher-set assessments at the end of Key Stage 1 in: - Speaking and Listening - Science National tests at the end of Key Stage 2 in: - Mathematics - Reading - Grammar, punctuation and spelling Teacher assessments at the end of Key Stage 2 in: - Mathematics - Reading - Writing - Science Whew! This is all quite a change to primary school assessment, and it comes on top of updates to the National Curriculum. While teachers and students alike wrap their heads around these updates, our tutors will be on hand to help give your child a boost. Browse our website and find a tutor!  We have thousands of specialist 7+ and 11+ tutors, so you can be sure of finding someone who is just the right fit for you. Written by Emma H (English teacher) Still have questions? We’d love to hear from you at support@tutorfair.com Related article: GCSE Exam Reforms

Benny the Irish Polyglot releases his new book! Fluent in 3 Months

Benny the Irish Polyglot releases his new book! Fluent in 3 Months We are happy to announce that our good friend and supporter, Benny Lewis, who writes a very well known blog called Fluent in 3 months, has just released his new book  Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World!  Benny has been an italki user for a while now and uses italki regularly to learn new languages.  In fact, italki is mentioned in his new book as one of Bennys go-to resources when learning a new language. We just wanted to support Benny in letting you all know that his book is now and has already hit the #1 spot in Language Learning on Amazon.com.   If you are serious about learning a language and want to know the real secrets of how to effectively learn a new language from a true Language Hacker whose entire life is dedicated to learning languages, you must buy this book! Below is a description of his book (taken from his  website): Benny Lewis, international language hacker and author of  Fluent in 3 Monthsâ€"the most popular language blog in the worldâ€"delivers an unconventional guide that allows readers to push past common barriers and start speaking from day one. You don’t learn a languageâ€"you get used to it. Self-taught polyglot and perhaps the world’s most beloved traveler, Benny Lewis is living proof that anyone, at any age, can learn to speak any language from anywhere in the world. Throughout his travels, Benny has developed faster, easier, and more efficient ways to learn languages, using techniques far different from traditional programs that focus on studying grammar and memorizing vocabulary.  Fluent in 3 Months  breaks down language-learning myths and replaces them with practical “language hacks” that take advantage of the skills we already possess: universal phrases, perceptive observation skills, and body language shortcuts. With Benny’s insight and proven methods, readers can master language immersionâ€"without buying a plane ticket. In the book learn about:: Why you  definitely can  learn any language, at any age, from anywhere in the world (no need to be a baby or pre-voting age, or buy a plane ticket!) How to get from  zero to fluency  and on to  mastery  in a language How to speak  multiple languages  and how to pass yourself off as a native speaker! VIEW AN EXCERPT! Click here to learn more and Buy the Book! Benny the Irish Polyglot releases his new book! Fluent in 3 Months We are happy to announce that our good friend and supporter, Benny Lewis, who writes a very well known blog called Fluent in 3 months, has just released his new book  Fluent in 3 Months: How Anyone at Any Age Can Learn to Speak Any Language from Anywhere in the World!  Benny has been an italki user for a while now and uses italki regularly to learn new languages.  In fact, italki is mentioned in his new book as one of Bennys go-to resources when learning a new language. We just wanted to support Benny in letting you all know that his book is now and has already hit the #1 spot in Language Learning on Amazon.com.   If you are serious about learning a language and want to know the real secrets of how to effectively learn a new language from a true Language Hacker whose entire life is dedicated to learning languages, you must buy this book! Below is a description of his book (taken from his  website): Benny Lewis, international language hacker and author of  Fluent in 3 Monthsâ€"the most popular language blog in the worldâ€"delivers an unconventional guide that allows readers to push past common barriers and start speaking from day one. You don’t learn a languageâ€"you get used to it. Self-taught polyglot and perhaps the world’s most beloved traveler, Benny Lewis is living proof that anyone, at any age, can learn to speak any language from anywhere in the world. Throughout his travels, Benny has developed faster, easier, and more efficient ways to learn languages, using techniques far different from traditional programs that focus on studying grammar and memorizing vocabulary.  Fluent in 3 Months  breaks down language-learning myths and replaces them with practical “language hacks” that take advantage of the skills we already possess: universal phrases, perceptive observation skills, and body language shortcuts. With Benny’s insight and proven methods, readers can master language immersionâ€"without buying a plane ticket. In the book learn about:: Why you  definitely can  learn any language, at any age, from anywhere in the world (no need to be a baby or pre-voting age, or buy a plane ticket!) How to get from  zero to fluency  and on to  mastery  in a language How to speak  multiple languages  and how to pass yourself off as a native speaker! VIEW AN EXCERPT! Click here to learn more and Buy the Book!