Assessment schedule:

As an Academy it is important for us to understand what gaps in knowledge students may have. To do this we run two main “assessment weeks” each year.

The first assessment week runs at the end of the autumn term, with the second running towards the end of the summer term. In addition to these assessment weeks, we also run mid-point checks at the end of the spring term where students sit additional assessments in English, Maths and Science.

Year 11 students complete pre-public exams (previously known as mocks) at the end of the autumn term and during the spring term. These are vital in preparing students for their GCSE exams.

 

Reporting to Parents/Carers:

Following each formal data input, known as Assessment Updates, a copy of these assessments will be sent home electronically.  This will happen 3 times a year for each year group.  In addition, there will be one formal opportunity for parents/carers to meet with subject teachers per year.  However, we actively encourage parental engagement and therefore welcome parents/carers to contact the Academy at any time to receive an update on their child's progress.

For KS3 students (Year 7-9) we will report:

  • Assessment (%): The percentage scored in the assessment
  • Similar Students’ average (%): The average percentage scored by students who received similar scores in their KS2 SATS results.
  • Year group average (%): The average percentage scored by all students in the year group
  • Attitude to learning: This is the average attitude to learning score that the student has received in the subject.  

For KS4 students (Year 10 and 11) we will report:

  • Academy Expectation: This is the minimum target grade that we expect the student to achieve, based on a student’s performance in their KS2 SATS assessments.  
  • Latest Assessment Grade: This indicates the student’s current levels of attainment. The grade will reflect the student’s performance in their most recent assessment.  For some courses it may also include any progress to non-examined assessment (coursework) elements.
  • Predicted grade: This is a teacher judgement predicting what grade they think the student is likely to achieve at the end of Year 11, if they maintain current rates of progress.  
  • Attitude to learning: This is the average attitude to learning score that the student has received in the subject.  

Fine Grading

All grades at KS4 will be accompanied by a fine grading measure, these measures are as modelled below

 +  Student is secure at this grade, with intervention they may move to the next grade

 =  Student is secure at this grade

 -   Student is at this grade but it is not secure and without intervention may slip to the grade below.

All reports also include information on the student’s attendance and number of ACE points achieved.

 

Preparing students for key assessments:

The Academy makes available, to all stakeholders, key information that will enable all students to make good progress.  The information focusses on how best to prepare for key assessments and terminal exams.  For further information please visit the ‘Subjects’ tab located in the Curriculum section of our website.

Long term plans – Identify the topics taught over the course of the academic year. Each subject’s long term plan contains information on:

  • The topic.  
  • The knowledge covered. 
  • The key skills needed. 
  • How each topic will be assessed. 

Learning Journeys – provide students with a pictorial view of what will be taught during the academic year. 

Knowledge Organisers – Departments will ensure that every student is fully prepared for each assessment by providing them with Knowledge Organisers. This document will provide a summary of all key facts and essential knowledge that students need to know about a unit of work. 

Topic Level Analysis – All summative assessment data is collected at topic level so that teachers can more easily identify strengths and areas for development.  This information feeds into individual PLCs that students receive both in lesson and electronically. 

Personal Learning Checklists - All students will receive Personal Learning Checklists (PLC) following all summative assessments.  This document provides a summary of how well students have performed identifying strengths and areas for improvement.  Teachers may: 

  • Use this information to re-teach certain topics. 
  • Factor in ‘fix it’ lessons into curriculum time so that students can work on individual areas for development. 
  • Set homework using online platforms such as Seneca, Kerboodle, Boost, etc.  
  • Redesign areas of the curriculum for future use.