Sisra Analytics: KS5 - How do I prepare / set up Sisra Analytics for the Summer Exams 2026? (Admin)

Overview

This article explains the steps and best practices to configure Sisra Analytics correctly, ready for when you receive your school's KS5 Exam results in August 2026.

Prerequisites

You must be an administrator.

Steps and best practice

In DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Students > Cohort:
1. Ensure that Y12 and Y13 student data files have been uploaded for the Current Y13 (25/26) cohort. The Y12 data should reflect the end of Y12 and the Y13 data should reflect the Y13 Spring Census.
2. Ensure On Roll students and their filter values reflect those in the Y13 Spring Census in DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Students > Cohort.
3. Ensure students On Roll who were 18 years old at the very start of the Academic Year (31/08/2025) must be manually changed to On Roll Aged 18.
4. Each Year 12 Only and Year 13 Only students need two A Level-sized entries (either two grades worth at least 1 A Level entry each, or 1 grade worth 2 entries) to be included in school performance measures. Ensure that this status is accurately set for these students using DfE criteria. See Sisra Analytics: KS5 Cohort Eligibility (Admin) for further information.
5. If required, to change a student’s status, manually check their name in Actions, and select Change Status. Alternatively, import a new student data file.
6. Ensure Key Filter Mapping is completed (DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Students > Key Filter Mapping).
See Sisra Analytics: KS5 - Setting Up Spring Census Student Data (Admin) for further information.
From DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > KS4 / EAP > Core Baselines:
1. Import each student’s KS4 APS GCSE for GCE AS / A Level and Academic qualifications and KS4 APS All for Applied General and Tech Level qualifications, as Attainment 8 points (for example, GCSE Grade 9 = 9 Points).
  
  These figures are available in Get Information About Pupils (GIAP). Use KS4_PTSPE_PTQ_EE for your students’ KS4 APS All, and KS4_GPTSPE_PTQ_EE for their KS4 APS GCSE. Do not use the KS4 English and Maths information provided in the GIAP file.
  
  If this is unavailable, manually calculate this. See Sisra Analytics: KS5 - Manually calculating L3VA Core Baselines (Admins) for further information.
2. Import KS4 Prior English and Maths in challenge points format for the whole cohort. The Challenge Points are equivalent to GCSE 9-1 Grades (for example, GCSE Grade 3 = 3 Challenge Points, and a GCSE Grade 4 = 4 Challenge Points). For other qualification types, see Sisra Analytics: What are Challenge Points?.
3. Ensure you have at least one EAP for each of your Grade Types so that the relevant points are awarded for your qualifications in the reports. The Matching page will also check that the EAP selected contains an appropriate Grade Method.
See Sisra Analytics: KS5 - Preparing and Importing Core Baselines (Admin) for further information.
In DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Grades > Uploads > Exams upload all banked exams awarded before the students’ summer results (for example, early and offsite exams). Official AS and A2 qualifications should be named separately in your file (e.g. Art AS, Art A2, etc.)

If you haven’t already, you may wish to upload Targets and any other grades data, for example, Assessments, that you’d like to be available for comparison with on Results Day. Do this from the relevant page in DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Grades > Uploads.

See Sisra Analytics: How do I upload Standalone Grades? (Admin) for further information.
Ensure all qualifications have been assigned to the appropriate set of classes in DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Students > Classes > Assign Quals.

See Sisra Analytics: Assigning Qualifications to Classes (Admin) for further information.
1. Open DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Grades > Matching.
2. Select Edit. You should have one row for each qualification.
3. For all appropriate qualifications:
  - Set Include to Yes. Any qualifications that are not needed,for example, qualifications students did not enter officially, can be excluded from reports here.
  - Enter the QN codes for each qualification to determine the QN / Qual Title. Qualification Title or Syllabus Title can be used as an alternative, but may not be as accurate.
  - Assign the correct EAP from those created in the DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > KS4 / EAP > EAP / Baselines > EAP area. Sisra Analytics checks the Grade Method used in the EAP matches the Grade Method expected, based on the selection in QN/Qual Title.
4. If your students have taken an Extended Project Qualification (EPQ), ensure this is set up. See Sisra Analytics: KS5 - How do I set up an Extended Project Qualification? (Admin) for further information.
See Sisra Analytics: KS5 - Completing the Matching Page (Admin) for further information.
From DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Grades > National Data > Value Added, select Edit VA Data, then select the most recently available data (2025).

See Sisra Analytics: KS5 - National Data - Value Added Setup (Admin) for further information.
From DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Grades > Grades Management:
1. Check the Grades Count reflects the number of grades you expect for each qualification.
2. Resolve any warnings, for example, Missing Student Data, Missing Class Data , Grade Not in Method and Sub Grades not Valid in this Data Set. You will not be able to publish your Exams data set until all main issues are resolved
See Sisra Analytics: Grades Management (Admin) for further information.
1. Publish Students from DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Students > Publish Students select Publish.
2. Publish KS4 / EAP from DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > KS4 / EAP > Publish KS4 / EAP select Publish.
3. Publish Grades from DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Grades > Publish Grades select Publish.
4. Publish any data sets (Data Sets tab) or assessments (Year 12 and Year 13 tabs under Assessments heading) you wish to be available for comparison on Results Day.
5. Check for discrepancies or blank figures in the reports and resolve these before Results Day.
See Sisra Analytics: What does publishing mean? for further information.
1. Check the correct members of staff have up-to-date login details and block / delete any staff who have left.
2. Ensure only appropriate staff have access to view Embargo reports.
3. Circulate the User Basics handout (see Sisra Analytics: Getting Started / User Basics) to staff, that includes a section on how to reset their login details.

Related information

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Updated 19 September 2025 15:38