Information for Parents about Personalised Assessments
The way children in Wales are completing the National Tests is changing.
There are currently three National Tests: Procedural Maths, Reasoning Maths and Reading and have all been carried out with all eligible children in Wales from Year 2 to Year 6 (Primary), Year 9 (Secondary) since 2015. The tests have always been administered in schools within the same test week window which is set for early to the middle of May. The completed tests are marked and moderated internally, then standardised externally and the results shared when we report to parents at the end of the academic year.
This academic year the Welsh Assembly Government will begin to phase out paper tests and move to an online testing system called Personalised Assessments. This is the second year of the phased changes with the Procedural Maths and Reading Tests online whilst maintaining a set test week for the Reasoning Maths Test papers which is set for this year between 28th April and the 5th of May. Both the Procedural Maths and Reading Test papers will no longer be a paper version but will be completed by all eligible children online. The timetable for change will be as follows:
The Personalised Assessment maths paper will be completed through the Hwb (https://hwb.gov.wales/) Digital Learning for Wales Welsh Government website for which all children in Wales have their own user name and password. The children will know how to log in and shown how to access and complete the tests on a day decided by the class teacher. The children will not need to complete the test during the set test week but will have the opportunity to complete the test up to twice and therefore as a school we have decided to set the tests during the following timescales.
| Procedural Maths and Reading Test – Practise or first attempt | Spring Term |
| Procedural Maths and Reading Test – Actual or second attempt | Summer Term |
We have felt it important for the children to experience the first test early in the year in order to provide the greatest opportunity for feedback and in class support however we are also mindful that not all skills are covered yet.
Following each test, the Learner Feedback or results will be available to be viewed by class teachers the day after the test and we plan on sharing this information with our parents or carers no later than two weeks after the test has been taken. Should a child be on holiday or ill whilst their peers are completing the test, the test will be completed as soon as possible once they have returned school. This feedback will be used to:
- provide detailed information about the progress made by the child
- inform teacher planning
- support the next steps in the child’s learning journey.
The tests are designed to react to the ability of the child; if they are unable to answer a question or answer incorrectly the computer will adjust the next question accordingly.
For example, should a question be easy the child will complete a more difficult question next or should a question be easy for that child the following question will be more challenging. Unlike the paper versions we plan on administering the test in smaller groups, rather than as a whole class and there is no time limit given.
Completion of the tests of a statutory requirement but we will endeavour to make the changes to the test system as worry free for all children within the school and we will use familiarisation tests to show every child how the new test will be completed.
At this moment in time, we are unsure whether the format of the comparative data reported to parents at the end of the school year, showing the standardised scores over time, will remain the same.
More information about the new online Personalised Assessments can be found on our website entitled:
Personalised assessment feedback – Numeracy (Procedural) Information for parents and carers
Personalised assessment feedback – Reading Information for parents and carers
Personalised assessment progress report – Numeracy (Procedural) Information for parents and carers
Thank you for your continued support.
Mrs Rachel Lloyd
Assistant Head teacher
(Leader of Standards and Continuous Improvement)