Research and analysis

Key stage 2 science sampling 2018: methodology note and outcomes

Outcomes of the 2018 key stage 2 (KS2) science sample assessment and conclusions about national trends in pupils’ performance.

From:
Standards and Testing Agency
Published
18 July 2019

This publication was withdrawn on

The last year in which science sampling took place was 2018. Ministers have since decided not to undertake any further science sampling at key stage 2 (KS2).

However, schools should still make teacher assessment (TA) judgements and submit TA data for science at the end of KS2.

Documents

Key stage 2 science sampling 2018: methodology note and outcomes

PDF, 381 KB, 28 pages

Details

The biennial statutory assessment in science estimates national performance in relation to areas of the national curriculum in science. This is based on a matrix sampling approach.

We publish the assessment outcomes to inform schools and other stakeholders about national trends in pupils’ performance in science.

The methodological note includes:

  • a detailed explanation of the methodology used to analyse the sample
  • overall performance in KS2 science assessments in 2016 and 2018
  • performance by gender, eligibility for free school meals, and English as an additional language
  • performance by subject strand—biology, chemistry, physics and working scientifically
Published 18 July 2019