Investigating performance across Key Stage 2 maths topics

This project will investigate the feasibility of constructing separate scores for each National Curriculum area of the Key Stage 2 Statutory Assessment Test (SAT) for mathematics. 

Why is this important?

Key Stage 2 SATs are used to monitor primary school performance, provide information about individual achievement and gaps, and understand wider national and sub-national achievement changes over time. Research and policy analysis focuses on overall scores, yet subjects are formed of several components. Mathematics, for example, is formed of eight sub-domains (including geometry, algebra, and statistics for example). 

What does it involve?

The research team will investigate the feasibility of creating sub-domain scores for each National Curriculum area of mathematics and using these to make reliable comparisons across demographic groups, schools, and over time. If such scores can be reliably generated, they would investigate the following: 

• The size of socio-economic, ethnic and gender gaps across different areas of the curriculum. 
• Whether some schools are better at helping pupils build skills in certain areas than others. 
• How relative performance across the topics has changed over time, including whether the pandemic led to greater learning loss in particular areas. 

The overarching aim of the project is to support better use of SATs data by schools. It will also improve our understanding of what can and cannot be inferred about pupil, class, and school performance across the National Curriculum areas.

How will it make a difference?  

Findings from the projects will be disseminated to teachers and leaders through FFT’s Aspire platform. This provides real-time analysis of school data and will allow schools to identify which topics need particular attention through curriculum development or continuing professional development. Key stakeholders, including the Department for Education and Standards and Testing Agency, will be directly engaged throughout the project. In addition to a main public report, there will also be a series of blogs and articles for specialist outlets.