Assessment

ASSESSMENT

At Titus Salt school we value the support of parents and carers in helping their child to achieve their best.  Reports are one method that allow us to inform you of your child’s approach to learning and empowers you to be a key part of their learning journey.  Reports are published twice every year in KS3 and three times in KS4&5.  They give you key information about your child’s attendance, attitude to learning, behaviour and progress.  In addition there is a parents’ evening for each year group when you have the opportunity to meet subject teachers and discuss progress.  For more information about how to make the most of your child’s report, see the documents at the bottom of this page.

MAKING GOOD PROGRESS

Pupils begin secondary schools at different levels and will make progress at different rates.  We believe it is important not to put a limit on this progress by setting GCSE target grades at the start of KS3.  Instead, pupils are assessed on the progress they have made in learning our curriculum based on their starting point.  Pupils are assigned a progress descriptor based on how much progression has been made from their KS2 starting point and this is drawn from teacher assessment including common subject assessment points.  An overview of the curriculum for each subject can be found on our website alongside information below about how pupil progress is assessed in each subject.

As stated above, until pupils begin GCSE courses, we do not set individual ambitious target grades for their achievement as the assessments are often different from the foundational work needed at KS3.  However, to give pupils and parents an idea of their potential attainment and to support option choices, in Year 9 pupils will be given an ambitious target grade range for each subject based on both KS2 levels and the progress they have made in KS3.  This range will be personalised in each subject area to reflect the work pupils have done and the progress descriptors will be linked to these target ranges to give pupils and parents/carers a broad indication of GCSE potential when choosing options.

In Year 10 these target ranges will be refined into a single ambitious target grade, encouraging pupils to make really good progress based on their KS2 start points.  These are personalised for each subject to ensure that they are a genuine reflection of pupils’ talents and potential.  Reporting in this Key Stage will give an indication of the pupil’s potential to achieve these targets at the end of Year 11 (Best Estimated Grade) and an indication of their current performance taking into account all of the assessment information available to teachers at this stage in their course (Current Grade).  The Current Grade may be lower than the Best Estimated Grade as it may be limited by the skill level of the topics covered so far (often the more difficult skills that gain higher marks are taught later in the course.)  By giving both grades we hope to give parents/carers and pupils the context to understand whether there is cause for concern or celebration in terms of a pupils’ current performance.

We will, of course, continue to report on attendance, behaviour and attitude to learning as these remain the biggest influence on future success.

ASSESSMENT CALENDAR

In each subject there will be regular in class assessment which helps teachers to gauge pupil knowledge and understanding so that feedback can be given to support improvement.  Sometimes this will be verbal feedback to individuals or to the whole group, sometimes it will be written.  This will depend on the subject and the task.  Importantly, pupils will be given the opportunity to respond to the feedback and improve their understanding.  Further details are given in the subject links below.

In each year group there will also be a series of more formal assessments in most subjects which will help pupils to practise remembering work over a longer period of time.  Pupils will be supported by their teachers to learn how to revise effectively for these assessments, which are part of the learning process.  In KS3 most of these will take place in lessons.  At the end of Y9 and in KS4 these will take place in examination rooms as part of the preparation for GCSEs.  Results of individual assessments will not be reported on separately but will form part of the teacher’s decision when awarding a progress descriptor at KS3 and a current and Best Estimated Grade at KS4.

If you require further information about assessment please contact Mrs Willis, Deputy Headteacher – Curriculum and Quality of Education  wis@titussaltschool.co.uk