What is a P scale?

P-scales describe the progress of pupils aged 5 – 16 with special educational needs who are working below the standard of the interim pre-key stage standards in the national curriculum. There are eight levels of P scales with P1 being the lowest and P8 the highest.

What do P levels go up to?

There are eight levels within the P scales; levels 4 to 8 lead into the relevant subject descriptors in Level 1 of the NC. Levels 1 to 3 are more developmental and are not subject specific. P levels 1 to 3 are each divided into two sub-levels – for example, P1(i) and P1(ii).

Do P levels still exist?

The government has announced that a new testing approach to measure the attainment of pupils with complex disabilities will replace “P-scales” from 2020. P-scales are currently used to measure the attainment of pupils working below national curriculum level.

Are P scales still used 2021?

The statutory teacher assessments due to take place in summer 2021, including the transition year for the engagement model and the final year of P scales 1 to 4, have been cancelled. We expect the engagement model to become statutory from September 2021, replacing P scales 1 to 4.

How many levels are there in the P scale?

There are eight levels within the P scales; levels 4 to 8 lead into the relevant subject descriptors in Level 1 of the NC. Levels 1 to 3 are more developmental and are not subject specific.

Who is the creator of the P scale?

Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), corp creator. (2009) The P scales: level descriptors P1 to P8. Available under License Permission Granted by Copyright Owner (Third-Party Rights Redacted). Available under License Permission Granted by Copyright Owner.

Why are P scales used in primary school?

P-scales are currently used to measure the attainment of pupils working below national curriculum level. Around 7,000 primary school pupils are currently assessed based on this system because their needs are so complex it would be “inappropriate” to measure their attainment using SATs.

When did the collection of P level data start?

Since September 2007, when the P scales became a part of the statutory NC arrangements, the collection of P level data has been compulsory. This data collection has started to give us a national picture of how many children are on the P scales: