Member Briefing - Medway Test And Selection. 4 January 2023

Member briefing – Medway Test and selection. 4 January 2023

Medway Test; Background Medway test unique to Medway Process to determine pupils with ability and aptitude to attend a Medway Grammar school 6 Grammar Schools in Medway Currently, three girls schools, two boys and one co-educational External provider – GL provides the tests, papers and marks the multiple choice papers. GL provides the results based upon their marking and the LA marked writing paper.

Test process for parents Publication of arrangements– May Registration – June Special Arrangements – July Test invitation – August Test Day – September Results – Early October Review – Mid October Deferred Test – November

Test Day Medway Pupils – Midweek over two days in their own schools Out of Area – Following Saturday and Sunday Test Centres for out of area pupils – usually secondary schools (last year 8 secondary schools used) Site management – schools responsibility Funding for schools is provided to staff the centres and cover cleaning costs, loss of earnings etc Safeguarding – test centre responsibility All pupils take three individual tests Writing test - Total of 50 minutes A standalone test where the pupil must write to one task The task is to write either a story or piece of nonfiction Each day has a different question although the genre will be consistent.

The test Mathematics – multiple choice 50 questions in 50 minutes Assesses how well a child can use their maths skills they have gained in learning to solve new kinds of problems that could be more challenging than they are used to. Assessment skills included are from every aspect of mathematics in year 5 (not year 6) of the national curriculum. Verbal Skills (formerly Verbal reasoning) – multiple choice 80 questions in 45 minutes Assesses how well a child can apply rules and work out relationships between words and letters. This test may or may not include a comprehension element for assessment.

Marking Process Multiple choice papers are marked by a scanner through the test provider GL. The writing paper is marked by hand. The criteria for a marker is Full QTS (Qualified Teachers Status) Accredited KS2 moderator/English GCSE marker Secondary school teachers: Must not be teaching in a school outside of Medway Have at least 5 years relevant teaching experience Have not retired from teaching beyond the last 3 years Have had experience of assessing pupils writing within the last 3 years Experience of teaching English and marking/assessing KS2 and/or KS3 writing Experience of applying a mark scheme e.g. GCSE English Have experience of teaching KS2 National Curriculum Have experience of using the Teacher Assessment Framework for end of KS2 writing

Results process and review Result notification Email decisions sent to parents who registered for the test online and provided an email address Parents who registered online will also be able to view their child’s results on the Parent Portal Results letters sent to parents who registered for the test using a paper form Parents will be directed to www.medway.gov.uk/medwaytest for further information about next steps, including review. Review process - An academic review of the pupils who didn’t achieve the pass mark and assesses school work across a range of subjects. Review is by panel Headteacher or member of SLT Can be KS2 Lead (if not on SLT) and/or experienced Year 6 teacher with the following: minimum of 3 years’ experience (excluding 2020 and 2021) using the KS2 Teacher Assessment Framework (TAF) for moderating writing experience of making teacher assessments in reading and maths for pupils at the end of Year 6 taught year 6 for a minimum of one year in the last 3 years Deferred Test – for pupils unable, due to evidenced illness, to take the original test. (takes place around November)

Outcomes summary 2022 The following provides a breakdown of the Medway Test results for Admissions 2023 (the Test sat in September 2022) 2023 admissions 2022 admissions Number of children registered to sit the Test Number of children who sat the Test Medway – number of children who sat the Test Out of area – number of children who sat the Test 4,284 3,731 1,976 1,755 3,979 3,574 1,936 1,638 Number of children assessed as grammar via the Test Number of children assessed as grammar via the Test - Medway Number of children assessed as grammar via the Test - Out of area 2,156 854 1302 1,922 833 1,089 488 487 Minimum score required to be assessed as grammar

Number comparison September October September September 2019 Test 2020 Test 2021 Test 2022 Test (September (September (September (September 2020 2022 2023 2021 admission) admission) admission) admission) Total number of children who registered for the test 3730 3802 3924 4284 Total number of children who sat the test 3418 3396 3574 3731 Total number of children assessed as grammar 1807 1960 1922 2156 % all children assessed grammar 53% 58% 54% 58% Total number of children attending Medway schools who sat the test 2003 1883 1936 1976 Total number of children attending Medway schools assessed as grammar 885 888 833 854 % Medway children assessed grammar 44% 47% 43% 43% Total number of children attending Medway schools receiving Pupil Premium 998 987 990 1120 Total number of Medway Pupil Premium children who sat the test 297 235 343 409 90 66 106 111 30% 28% 31% 27% 9% 7% 11% 10% 84 59 88 93% 89% 83% Total number of Medway Pupil Premium children assessed as grammar % Medway Pupil Premium MT candidates assessed as grammar % all Medway Pupil Premium children (year 6 cohort) assessed as grammar Total number of Medway Pupil Premium children admitted to grammar school % PP grammar-assessed children who were admitted to grammar school

Proposed change to the test Inclusion of a Non verbal reasoning test The test provides a wider range of skills that the Medway Test can assess i.e.: o abstract thinking o the ability to analyse and solve problems o reasoning and inherent logic skills provides insight into the abilities of pupils whose preferred learning style is visual rather than linguistic. The test measures the natural ability and potential of a pupil who can be limited by language skills, including those with specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, those who are poorly motivated and EAL pupils. Assesses inherent ability and potential, rather than learned knowledge e.g. maths and language NVR is not part of the National Curriculum and therefore assesses skills that have not been discretely taught. Initially part of another test – but may develop to have an individual test No change to the number of tests taken in a day No change to the length of time the test takes overall

Co-Educational proposals Three grammar schools proposed to change from single gender to co-educational More Medway pupils able to access a grammar school Reduce out of area pupils particularly the more distant Provides opportunity for more local pupils Better geographical spread of schools Greater access for pupil premium, SEND and free school meals pupils Ease burden upon Medway Non selective schools which are in danger of overcrowding

Meeting demand going forward Exploring an annexe of a current grammar school on the west side of Medway This is likely to be a longer term outcome Over 1200 Medway resident pupils per day cross the bridge or tunnel to access a grammar school Demand likely to increase as more housing comes forward on the west side of the river May need to expand current schools to meet demand in the short term Working with grammar schools to establish a resourced provision to meet the needs of high functioning pupils who may have an EHCP or specialist need, but who are currently under represented in grammar schools. Targeting Pupil premium and Free School Meals parents to encourage higher registrations from this group. We have had some success in this area with numbers taking the test rising in recent years (see slide 10)

Out of area - number of children who sat the Test. 1,755. 1,638: Number of children assessed as grammar via the Test. 2,156: 1,922. Number of children assessed as grammar via the Test - Medway . 854. 833: Number of children assessed as grammar via the Test - Out of area. 1302: 1,089. Minimum score required to be assessed as grammar. 488. 487