Sisra Analytics: Y13 Summer Exams - How do I set up Y13 for the first time? (Exams only) (Admin)

Overview

This article explains how to set up your 2024 / 2025 cohort, along with any previous leavers' cohorts, for the first time to upload Exam results only, without populating EAPs, using the on, above or below track functionality or uploading historic assessment data. This is useful if your Y13 is blank, the cohort hasn't been set up, and no data has been entered for it.

Do not use this guide when setting up Year 12. Instead, use the Sisra Analytics: KS5 - Getting Started Checklist (Admin) article.

Prerequisites

You must be an administrator.

Instructions

Follow these steps to set up your 2024 / 2025 cohort, along with any previous leavers' cohorts for the first time in preparation for Results Day:

Go to CONFIG > Grade Methods > KS5 Methods.

Make sure you have the appropriate Grade Methods. Use your QN codes for the qualifications your students are taking, to search for a relevant grade structure.

Some QNs will not return a specific Grade Structure, for example, qualifications not reported on by the DfE since 2017. If an option does not appear for your QN, contact us.

See Sisra Analytics: KS5 - Creating Grade Methods (Admin) for further information.
Go to DATA > KS5 and Cohort > Students > Import to import two sets of student data. Import both the latest set of Y12 information for the cohort, and the January / Spring Census data to help determine student statuses. Also, complete Key Filter Mapping through DATA > KS5 and Cohort > Students > Key Filter Mapping. See Sisra Analytics: KS5 - Setting Up Spring Census Student Data (Admin) for further information.

Go to DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > KS4 / EAP > Core Baselines > Import Core Basedlines:
1. For Level 3 Value Added, import separate KS4 APS GCSE and KS4 APS All baselines (to at least 2, but ideally 4 decimal places).
2. For L2 English, L2 Maths Progress, and L3 Maths (currently suspended by the DfE until the 2024/2025 performance tables), import students' Prior English and Prior Maths challenge points from KS4 for internal analysis in Sisra Analytics. For all cohorts post-2019, students' GCSE 9-1 grades have the same respective points; for example, a Grade 9 would be 9 Points.
See Sisra Analytics: KS5 - Preparing and Importing Core Baselines (Admin) for further information.
To upload your EAP baselines:
1. Go to DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > KS4 / EAP > EAP / Baselines > Uploads. Upload at least one baseline. As pathways aren’t relevant in this case, the baseline can be any grade data file you already have, for example, targets, current grades, or even just grades for a single qualification. It won’t affect the reports.
2. After uploading the baseline, go to DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > KS4 / EAP > EAP / Baselines > Baseline Management. Set the Grade Type to KS5 Grade Method and select the appropriate Grade Method. This prepares the system for creating your EAP(s).
As pathways aren't needed here, you only need to set up one qualification in Baseline Management. This single setup can be used across all your EAPs, as explained in the next step.
EAPs must be created to define which Grade Method to use for each qualification. You must create one EAP for eaxh type of qualification that students will be taking in their exams. The EAPs do not have to be populated with expected attainment grades, but the EAP must include the appropriate Grade Method , for example, A Level, AS Level, Core Maths, and BTEC.

To create a generic/blank EAP:
1. Go to DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort >EAP / Baselines > EAP.
2. Select Create EAP.
3. Select Create New EAP.
4. Enter an EAP Name and EAP Description.
5. Select KS5 Grade Method in Baseline Type.
6. Select your EAP Baseline.
7. Select the relevant Grade Method in Assessment Methods.
8. Select Create.
The EAP is then complete and can be used for any qualifications using the same Grade Method. An example is shown below.

Repeat the above steps until you have one EAP per Grade Type.

See Sisra Analytics: KS5 - Creating EAPs (Admin) for further information.
1. Go to DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Grades > Uploads > Targets. Upload Target Grades to populate the cohort with a full list of qualifications ahead of Results Day. This will save setup time on the day itself, and allow for comparisons against targets.
2. Go to DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Grades > Uploads > Exams. Select Upload Grade File to upload any Banked exam results and Exam results received in the summer into the Exams data set. For applicable cohorts, if you have banked grades from 2020 or 2021, upload these with a date ranging from 01/08/21 to 31/08/21, to ensure they don't affect headline figures, as per DfE guidance.
See Sisra Analytics: How do I upload Standalone Grades? (Admin) for further information.
Go to DATA > KS5 and cohort > Students > Classes > Assign Quals. Assigned all qualifications to the correct set of classes.

See Sisra Analytics: Assigning Qualifications to Classes (Admin) for further information.
Complete the Matching page ensuring that you set each qualification to the EAP containing the appropriate Grade Method:
1. Go to DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Grades > Matching.
2. Select Edit. You should have one row for each qualification.
3. For all appropriate qualifications:
  1. Enter the QN codes for each qualification to determine the QN / Qual Title. If your QN does not return an appropriate option (it may be unapproved), enter Unapproved and select the appropriate type. Alternatively, see Sisra Analytics: KS5 Matching - Unapproved Qualifications / QNs not available (Admin) for further information.
  2. 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.
This step will need to be repeated after the exam results in the summer have been uploaded, unless you have uploaded a set of Target grades. Alternatively, set the Matching page up in advance by selecting Create New Qualification, and creating the qualification names.
Go to 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.
Complete the Value Added set up:
1. Go to DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Grades > National Data > Value Added.
2. Select Edit VA Data.
3. Select 2024 (the latest available, at the time of writing).
See Sisra Analytics: KS5 - National Data - Value Added Setup (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 (Targets and Exams data sets) from DATA > Select KS5 and Cohort > Grades > Publish Grades select Publish.
See Sisra Analytics: What does publishing mean? for further information.

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Updated 11 June 2025 09:55