Accessibility statement

Development of a Year 6 Science Assessment for use as an evaluation outcome measure

Following on from the development of a science attainment measure for Year 5 pupils (age 9-10), York Trials Unit (YTU) has been commissioned to develop an equivalent assessment for Year 6 pupils (age 10—11). The assessment will be developed for use as an outcome measure to evaluate the impact of science or science-related interventions.  It is intended to be a 45-minute, age-appropriate (10-11 years, Year 6 primary) assessment suitable for whole-class administration.

The project will comprise four phases after an initial phase where a primary science education specialist identifies a number of potential questions. Phase 1 will be a small pilot study (24 pupils in two schools) giving face-to-face, individual feedback on these questions. Phase 2 (1200 pupils in 30 schools) involves administering the questions selected after Phase 1, enabling further selection and refinement after appropriate statistical analysis. The final version of the assessment will be administered in Phase 3 (1120 pupils, 28 schools) allowing the performance of the full instrument, as well as individual questions, to be analysed. Test-re-test reliability will then be checked amongst a sub-sample of Phase 3 schools about 6 weeks later (Phase 4: 720 pupils, 18 schools).

For Phase 1, two schools known to the primary science specialist will be recruited in NW England and 12 pupils in each school will participate. The sample for Phases 2-4 will comprise a mix of schools across England that respond to an email invitation, including re-contacting those involved in the development of the Year 5 assessment. They will be asked to involve all Year 6 pupils who have not been withdrawn by their parents/carers.

It is intended that Phase 1 will take place in summer 2021, Phase 2 in summer 2022, and Phases 3 and 4 in summer 2023.

Year 6 Science Assessment Privacy Notice: How we use your research data

Funding

Funders(s):

Education Endowment Foundation (EEF)
Start Date:

January 2021
End Date:

March 2024

Members

YTU Team

External

  • Zoe Crompton, Manchester Metropolitan University