Assessment plays a vital role in monitoring students’ progress and designing learning and teaching activities which guarantee appropriate improvements for each individual student.

Years 7-11

In Years 7 to 11 our assessment uses are internal grading system which allows students and you to track their progress over their time here at the school. Each grade is then subdivided into fine grades: High (H) Middle (M) and Low (L). The fine grades indicate how secure the student’s work is at that grade.

Eg: 7H very secure 7M secure 7L weak.

A grade 9 is the highest grade possible on this tracking system.

Breakthrough grades

Some students, when they first join us, are not yet working at a level on our 9-1 tracking system in some areas. For these students, we use “breakthrough grades” starting at B1 and going through to B9. Once they have reached B9 they progress onto the internal scale 1 to 9.

Year 9-11 Creative I Media, Health and Social Care and Sport

The above assessment scheme is used in all subjects except for Creative I Media, BTEC Health and Social Care and BTEC Sport. In these subjects the grade system is:
Dist*, Dist, Merit, Pass, Level 1 Dist, Level 1 Merit, Level 1 Pass, Fail

Student own targets

In all subjects and in all years 7-11 students use statistical estimates provided by Fischer Family Trust to help them set aspirational their own targets for the end of Key Stage 4.

Flight path of expected grades

Given each student’s starting point and their expected final grade, a flight path has been calculated to give an indication of what grade they should have reached at the data collection.

On-going assessment

Teachers assess students’ work continuously: performance in lessons, written work etc. They then give feedback to students about how they are progressing towards their target grades.

Students receive feedback in a variety of ways, both written and verbal, and it is paramount that students act on that feedback, either to consolidate the progress already made or to make the next steps forwards.

There will be times in lessons over the course of each half term set aside for students to reflect on that feedback and to action any advice (sometimes homework will be set aside for this also).

It is important that parents help students understand the importance on acting on the advice of teachers and completing any follow-up work.

Internal examinations and Pre-Public Examinations (PPEs)

As well as the on-going assessment, students also have subject-based internal tests and examinations (eg: at the end of units or the end of a year). These are taken under exam conditions and usually in lessons.

In Year 11 they also have PPEs which are more formal examinations where students take examination papers in our exam halls. Students are required to achieve a personal pass mark in the first examinations (PPE1). If they fail to achieve this, after a period of work on the paper, they re-sit it in order to achieve their personal pass mark (PPE 2).

Reports

Years 7-11

Parents will receive 3 reports per year. (Please see the reporting schedule page here)

Years 9-11

In Years 9-11 a predicted final examination grade is given 3 times per year.

After each report students are encouraged to reflect on the progress they are making and identify areas in which they have done well and areas in which they can improve. This is supported by work in tutor periods.

Parents provide an essential support in this process by helping their child reflect honestly about their progress and set themselves suitable targets for improvement.