DfE analysis shows Reception baseline link to KS1 scores

Department for Education analysis of the Key Stage 1 results of 67,000 pupils that took part in the Reception baseline pilot run by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) in 2015 has found a clear association between attainment at the age of four and age seven across reading, writing and maths at Key Stage 1.

The DfE said that the analysis shows that children’s chances of reaching the expected standard in Key Stage 1 assessments increased with their Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA) mark, clearly demonstrating the baseline assessment’s validity as an appropriate starting point to measure pupil progress.

The relationship between children’s marks in the RBA and Key Stage 1 (KS1) assessments exists across all areas – reading, writing and maths – both individually and combined.

The DfE has released the analysis as around 9,400 schools take part in the pilot of the Reception baseline this term.

It follows research earlier this week from campaigners More than A Score, which highlighted significant opposition among primary headteachers to the tests for four-year-olds, despite the thousands of schools that have signed up for the optional pilot.

It said that many schools felt compelled to take part in the pilot, even though they do not agree with Reception baseline testing.