Latest news with #Year6
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Inspector says school is 'so good they'd send their children there'
A PRIMARY school is celebrating after being judged "outstanding" by Ofsted, with inspectors saying they'd send their own children there. Suckley School said inspectors told them that they would have "loved" for their own children to attend the school during the inspection. The school has received a glowing report from inspectors, who said it was an "inspirational school where pupils flourish". It received the highest ranking of "outstanding" in quality of education, behaviour and attitudes, personal development and leadership and management. READ MORE: Line-up of performers confirmed for Worcester Carnival READ MORE: Warning of risk to vulnerable as heat health alert raised to amber READ MORE: 450 home plan for Droitwich already 'suffering overdevelopment' They said pupils were achieving "exceptionally" and that classrooms were a "calm and purposeful" environment. The school's support for pupils' personal development also received high praise, with inspectors drawing attention to an initiative in which Year 6 pupils carry out work experience. Inspectors were impressed by other enrichment opportunities at the school, including visiting an inner-city school in Birmingham to experience a contrasting location. One pupil said "this helps bring learning to life". Staff are also said to be "very proud" to work at the school. A spokesperson for Suckley School said: "These observations are testament to the incredible dedication of all the staff and governors at Suckley School who have worked, and continue to work, tirelessly for all of the children. "Their skills and expertise have been rightly acknowledged by the inspectors, who praised staff for the curriculum being 'implemented exceptionally well' and recognising we go 'beyond the expected'. "Our favourite comments throughout the inspection were from the lead inspector who simply said 'I'd have loved my children to have come here' and 'what you have here is gold dust'. "Ofsted also left us with no 'areas for improvement'."
The Independent
08-07-2025
- General
- The Independent
Sats results rise on last year but stay below pre-pandemic levels
The proportion of Year 6 pupils in England who met the expected standard in this year's Sats exams has risen, but it is still below pre-pandemic levels, official statistics show. The Key Stage 2 results showed 62% of pupils reached the expected standard in reading, writing and maths combined this summer, up from 61% last year. In 2019, 65% of pupils met the standard, according to the provisional Department for Education (DfE) data. In individual subjects, scores were higher than last year. In total, 75% of pupils met the expected standard in reading, up from 74% in 2024. In writing, 72% of pupils met the expected standard, an increase of 0.5 percentage points on last year. In grammar, punctuation and spelling, 73% of pupils met the expected standard, up from 72%. Overall, 82% of pupils met the expected standard in science, up from 81%, and 74% met the expected standard in maths, up from 73%. The DfE said these pupils experienced disruption to their learning during the pandemic, particularly at the end of Year 1 and in Year 2. Attainment in all subjects, other than reading, has not returned to pre-pandemic levels, it added. The figure come after education unions have raised concerns about the statutory tests in primary schools as they fear they are too 'high-pressure'. Currently, pupils in England sit Sats in the summer of Year 6 and these results are often used in holding primary schools to account. Children also take a phonics check in Year 1 and a times table check in Year 4. The interim report of the independent curriculum and assessment review, published in March, concluded that formal assessments are an 'important part' of primary school education. But it said the review will examine how the assessment of writing in Year 6 'can be improved', and it will review concerns about the grammar, punctuation and spelling assessment. The final report of the review, chaired by education expert Professor Becky Francis, is due to be published in the autumn. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, said: 'It's brilliant to see more children building the strong foundations in reading, writing and maths that will set them on a path to future success. 'It's a testament to the hard work of teachers across the country who have tirelessly supported pupils to prepare for the assessments earlier this year. 'Yet despite our brilliant teachers, we still have over a third of children leaving school below the expected standard in one or more of these critical subjects, with writing in particular continuing to lag below pre-pandemic levels.' She added that the Government is publishing the first writing framework for primary schools, investing in reading and writing and it has launched the curriculum and assessment review. Paul Whiteman, general secretary at school leaders' union NAHT, said: 'Pupils, teachers and school leaders have worked incredibly hard throughout the year and deserve enormous credit for their achievements. 'However, it is time to change this system of statutory assessment which is of little benefit to teachers or children.' He added: 'These tests are instead used as an accountability tool to judge and compare school performance – and not even a reliable one at that. 'They are given disproportionate significance and heap pressure onto pupils and staff, causing unnecessary stress and in some cases harming their wellbeing. 'We were disappointed that the interim curriculum and assessment review report did not support scaling back statutory tests for children. 'Reducing the negative impact, cost, time and resources required for phonics, the multiplication check and the grammar, punctuation and spelling tests would not reduce standards, and we urge the review team to think again ahead of the publication of its final report.' A spokeswoman for campaign group More Than A Score said: ''A small percentage change is not an indication of 'high and rising standards'. 'Standards should not be based on a narrow set of tests following a year of intensive cramming. 'These exams do not measure all that children can do and are damaging to mental health, causing sleepless nights and low self-esteem for 10 and 11-year-olds.' Tiffnie Harris, primary specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: 'It is good to see the continued improvement in the proportion of children reaching expected standards since the Covid-19 pandemic. 'There is much debate about the pressure these tests can place on children. ' Teachers are adept at identifying and providing additional help where pupils are showing signs of anxiety. 'However, these are demanding one-size-fits-all tests, and it would be better to move to a system of personalised assessments using the type of adaptive testing technology which is readily available.'
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Pupils showered in powder paint at end-of-year celebration
Pupils were showered in powder paint as part of a colourful end-of-year celebration. More than 300 Year 6 pupils took part in a colour dash at Marl Pits rugby pitch in Rawtenstall. The event, organised by the Rossendale School Sports Partnership, was one of the final opportunities for Year 6 pupils to represent their schools before moving on to secondary school. The colour dash marked the final opportunity for students to represent their schools (Image: Catherine Smyth Media) The event included two sessions, with Year 7 students from Haslingden High School, The Valley Leadership Academy, and Bacup and Rawtenstall Grammar School also joining in the festivities. Excitement filled the air as pupils gathered in a taped-off section of the field. After a countdown from 10, the bags were launched into the air, filling the sky with colour before raining down on pupils and staff. Powdered paint being thrown into the air (Image: Catherine Smyth Media) Pupils were then grouped together and set off around the pitch, running past paint stations manned by sports leaders from The Valley Leadership Academy. Charlie Howorth, a volunteer from St Anne's Church of England Primary School, said: "I ran round and it was fun, some of the paint went into my ear but everyone enjoyed themselves." For many, it was their first time taking part in a colour dash. Mia, a Year 6 pupil from Britannia Primary School, said: "It was very fun and exhilarating. "I have never done a colour dash before." In the afternoon session, with a few paint sachets remaining, grandma Linda Thompson and mum Lindsey Johnson joined the fun, covering each other in pink paint. Pupils enjoying the colour dash (Image: Catherine Smyth Media) Ms Thompson said: "This has been absolutely brilliant and a great release for all the children after everything they have been through this year. "As a grandparent – I love it." For some pupils, it was a day to remember in more ways than one. Cali, a student from St Paul's Constablelee, said: "Today has been amazing, I got paint thrown over me many times. "This is my school PE T-shirt and I am not going to need it again so I am not washing it, I am going to display it." READ MORE: In Pictures: Stevie Wonder kicks off UK tour with sold-out show at Lytham Festival How to follow Jack Catterall's big fight against Harlem Eubank 'She is now safe, warm, loved' - Homeless woman living on rec rescued after concern Dylan, from St James the Less RC School in Rawtenstall, said the day was full of surprises. He said: "Today had been great fun, exciting and colourful. "I have never done a colour run before and knew what I was in for. "I was surprised and there were a lot more people here than I thought but it was great."
Times
13-05-2025
- General
- Times
From A-list parties to the classroom: my new life as a teacher
A few years ago, on my birthday, I received a card from my class. 'Dear Mr Pewsey,' it read in felt pen. 'We are sorry for everything that we do.' The year 6 cohort of 10 and 11-year-olds was a menagerie of different behaviour challenges, and in those early trainee days I was repeatedly struck dumb by the disrespect thrown at me from all corners of the room. I was, at least, warmed by the group's effort to acknowledge that the way they spoke to me was upsetting. 'But — can I just check?' I asked the group. 'There's no suggestion here that you're going to try to change …' One of the children, the class straight-talker, shrugged and smiled widely. 'We can't change,' she
