The Educator Magazine U.K. Jan-April 2025 issue - Magazine - Page 48
How Can Schools Address
the Missing KS2 Data Gap?
Navigating the Absence of KS2 Data in
Years 10-11
The pandemic disrupted countless aspects of daily life, and
education was no exception. Even almost five years later, the
effects are still felt in schools today. One of the most
significant challenges is the data gap: students currently
in Years 10 and 11 missed out on Key Stage 2 (KS2) scaled
scores, leaving schools with an incomplete picture of their
academic starting points.
This missing data makes it harder for schools to track
progress, identify areas for improvement, and provide
targeted support where it's most needed. KS2 scaled scores
are numerical values ranging from 80 to 120, used to
indicate a student’s performance in Year 6 SATs. These scores
are crucial because they provide a standardised baseline for
tracking student progress, setting targets, and measuring
outcomes like Progress 8 - a key performance indicator for
secondary schools. Without this data, schools face
challenges in accurately assessing student performance
and future achievement, particularly when it comes to
predicting GCSE results.
Juniper Education offers a solution to bridge this gap.
Sisra Analytics, a platform used by 50% of secondary schools
in the UK, provides practical tools to support effective target
setting and progress tracking, even in the absence of KS2
data. But don’t just take our word for it - read on to discover
how it can make a difference.
Rethinking Target-Setting Methods
Schools have adopted various approaches to compensate for
the missing KS2 data. Some have used CAT4 or other baseline
tests to produce ‘retrospective KS2 scaled scores’, uploading
these results into FFT to generate targets. Others have used
their professional judgement to compare Year 10 and 11
students with similar students in other cohorts to establish
suitable benchmarks. Alternatively, targets can be set based
solely on individual attainment and projected progression.
You can also establish targets using KS2 data or other
methods, supported by Sisra's SPI insights.
How Schools Can Get Key Metrics Faster
For schools that have conducted CAT4 or similar baseline
tests to estimate retrospective KS2-scaled scores, this data
can be uploaded into Sisra Analytics in the same way as
official KS2 scores. As a result, schools can use Sisra’s unique
Data Collaboration feature, to calculate Progress 8 and
Subject Progress Index (SPI) figures for these year groups.
Data Collaboration has benchmarked performance against
over 1,500 schools nationally in 2024, providing a powerful
comparative tool and offering insights into student progress
relative to peers. Unlike official datasets, which often have
lengthy publication delays, Sisra’s Data Collaboration delivers
access to key metrics weeks earlier. This early access enables
schools to make informed decisions, refine strategies, and
intervene earlier in response to emerging progress trends.
Taking Advantage of Expected Attainment
Pathways (EAPs)
Many schools use KS2 data as a baseline for Expected
Attainment Pathways (EAPs). If retrospective KS2 scores are
available, these can be applied in the same way. Alternatively,
baseline test data can be used to create EAPs tailored to
individual targets. This method offers added flexibility,
allowing schools to analyse progress in greater detail across
different subjects. For additional guidance, schools can attend our termly Sisra administration and reports webinars.
Absence of Retrospective KS2 Data
If you are unable to access retrospective KS2 scaled scores,
reports can still be published without KS2 figures. However,
this will exclude certain metrics, such as Attainment 8
estimates, Progress 8, SPI, and Value Added, from the reports.
Another option could be to band students based on baseline
test results and upload these bands alongside other student
data. This enables further analysis by prior attainment groups
and can provide valuable insights.
Avoiding Common Pitfalls
For all other year groups, it’s crucial to avoid assigning KS2
scores to students who don’t have official DfE KS2 scaled
scores recorded. Including non-existent results can distort
the overall cohort analysis and lead to inaccurate reporting,
as the DfE doesn’t calculate Progress 8 for students without
KS2 data.
Need Early Data to Close the KS2 Gap?
Find out how Sisra Analytics can help your school make
quicker decisions, adjust strategies, and support students
sooner—leading to better outcomes.
Book a Sisra Analytics demo today!
