Assessment Information
Rationale
Assessment is always carried out for a purpose. Assessment that is valid and reliable is invaluable in offering rigorous, systematic information to teachers to inform action.
The aims of this policy, which is shared with both adults and pupils, will:
- Create a dialogue between pupil and teacher/other adults.
- Ensure continuity for the learner as he/she moves through the Academy
- Signal areas of achievement to the pupil, thereby motivating them to make progress.
- Identify areas requiring further development to pupils and adults which will be used to inform future planning.
- Raise the achievement and self-esteem of pupils by providing them with regular, high quality, diagnostic feedback about their work.
The School assessment consists of:
- In-school formative assessment – which is used by teachers to evaluate pupils’ knowledge and understanding on a day-to-day basis and to tailor teaching accordingly
- In-school summative assessment – which will enable teachers to evaluate how much a pupil has learned at the end of a teaching period
- Nationally standardised summative assessment – which will ensure our pupils are achieving outcomes, at least in line with or above National Average.
Formative Assessment (i.e. work completed during a 6 week cycle as pupils work towards identified key skills or assessments)
- Feedback is provided from teacher marking that conveys: what went well (WWW) and even better if (EBI).
- Comments are specific and directly linked to key skills and success criteria shared with pupils beforehand.
- Pupils respond to their feedback using a purple pen for progress/improvement/mastery work.
Summative Assessment (i.e. Assessments that have been completed to assess pupil progress)
- The teacher marks the assessment and records feedback explaining what the pupil has done well and what they need to improve.
The principles and aims of assessment
Planning and assessment are always carried out for a purpose with the intrinsic aim of supporting student progress. Assessment that is both valid and reliable is invaluable in offering rigorous, systematic information to teachers to inform their future planning.
The aims of this policy are to:
- Create a dialogue between student and teacher/other adults.
- Ensure continuity and progression for the learner as he/she moves through the school.
- Acknowledges areas of key skill knowledge success to the student, thereby motivating them to make progress.
- Identify key skill areas requiring further development to students and adults, which will be used to inform future planning.
- Raise the achievement and self-esteem of students by providing them with regular, high quality, diagnostic feedback about their work.
At the school, assessment consists of:
- In-school formative assessment – which is used by teachers to evaluate students’ key skill knowledge and understanding on a day-to-day basis and hence to inform their planning of further student learning.
- In-school summative assessment – which will enable teachers to evaluate the skills and knowledge learnt at the end of a teaching period, unit or module.
- Nationally standardised summative assessment – which will ensure students are achieving outcomes, at least in line with or above National Average.
Dedicated improvement and reflection time (DIRT) is an essential part of the Plan, Do, Adapt, Review model. This planned opportunity provides regular focussed support for students to understand what key skills they have accomplished and what they still need to develop.
Key Assessment Dates 2024-25
| Window | Deadline | To Parents Or online* | Parents Eve | |
| Autumn Term | ||||
| Y10 Parent Information Evening | 26 Sept | |||
| Y7 & Y9 CAT Testing | 30 Sept – 4 Oct | |||
| Y9 Assessment Window | 4 Nov – 8 Nov | |||
| Year 11 PPE’s (All subjects in exam venues) | 4 Nov – 15 Nov | |||
| Certificate Collection Evening (1st evening) | 26 Nov | |||
| Y8 Assessment Window | 11 Nov – 15 Nov | |||
| Y7 Meet the Tutor Evening | 14 Nov | |||
| Y11 PPE & Progress Data | w/c 2 Dec | |||
| Y7 Assessment Window | 18 Nov – 22 Nov | |||
| Y9 Parent Information Evening (options) | 21 Nov | |||
| Y8 Progress Check data | w/c 16 Dec | |||
| Y9 Progress Check data | w/c 16 Dec | |||
| Y7 Progress Check data | w/c 6 Jan | |||
| Certificate Collection Evening (2nd evening) | 3 Dec | |||
| Y10 Progress Check data | w/c 6 Jan | |||
| Y11 Route to Success Evening | 12 Dec | |||
| Spring Term | ||||
| Y9 Parents’ Evening | 16 Jan | |||
| Y11 Parents’ Evening | 23 Jan | |||
| Y9 Assessment Window | 27 Jan – 31 Jan | |||
| Y8 Assessment Window | 3 Feb – 7 Feb | |||
| Year 11 PPE’s (All subjects in exam venues) | 3 Feb – 14 Feb | |||
| Y9 Progress Check data | w/c 10 Mar | |||
| Exam Entry Deadline (all entries KS4 & KS5) | 21 Feb | |||
| Y8 Progress Check data | w/c 17 Mar | |||
| Y7 Assessment Window | 24 Feb – 28 Feb | |||
| Y10 Full Reports | w/c 3 Mar | |||
| Y11 Progress Check data | w/c 31 Mar | |||
| Y7 Progress Check data | w/c 31 Mar | |||
| Y8 Parents’ Evening | 20 Mar | |||
| Y11 Mock Results Day | w/c 31 Mar | |||
| Summer Term | ||||
| Y9 Assessment Window | 22 Apr – 28 Apr | |||
| Y10 PPEs | 22 Apr – 2 May | |||
| Y7 Parents’ Evening | 1 May | |||
| Y9 Progress Check data | w/c 2 June | |||
| Summer Exam Window | 8 May – 25 Jun | |||
| Y8 Assessment Window | 12 May – 16 May | |||
| Y7 Assessment Window | 19 May – 23 May | |||
| Y10 PPE Grades & Progress Check data | w/c 9 Jun | |||
| Y8 Progress Check data | w/c 16 Jun | |||
| Y7 Progress Check data | 23 Jun | |||
| Y10 Parents’ Evening | 26 Jun | |||
| Results Days | ||||
| GCE Results Day | 14 August | |||
| GCSE Results Day | 21 August | |||