The principles that underpin our assessment system are:
Every child can achieve: teachers at Park View have the mindset, ‘What do I need to do next to enable a child in my class to achieve?’
The National Curriculum ‘age related expectations’ (ARE) objectives will be used as the expectations for all children. These are clearly noted at the end of our curriculum plans.
Pupils will make age appropriate progress from their different starting points – 12 months progress in 12 months, more progress required for those who need to ‘close the gap’ to reach age related expectations.
Assessment is linked to high expectations and is viewed as an integral part of teaching and learning as per our target setting policy (+1 each year)
Teachers are experts at assessment – assessment will be effectively used to ensure the correct scaffolding is built into lessons to ensure all children achieve.
Our assessment and reporting system includes:
- Ongoing assessment against our curriculum objectives by the class teacher throughout each lesson, through questioning, observation and dialogue.
- Children knowing what they are being asked to learn and more importantly, why.
- Effective questioning by the teacher ensures that misconceptions are identified and quickly acted upon.
- Feedback is given and the teacher clearly identifies the next steps – this can be written or verbal feedback. Children are then given time to respond to the feedback.
- Regular ‘live marking’ and feedback.
- Recall at the beginning of all lessons with planned recall activities timetabled in each week.
- Pupils who are accessing the Read Write Inc phonic programme have assessments every six to eight weeks and are re-grouped according to their levels and progress.
- Progress tests for English and Maths in Autumn, Spring and Summer terms.
- Teachers assess pupil attainment in Reading, Writing, Maths on a termly basis against the New National Curriculum objectives which have been taught in class.
- Science, as well as all foundation subjects are also assessed periodically during the school year.
All of the above feed into ‘Data snap-shots’, these will take place at class, key stage and subject level three times a year, towards the end of each term. Termly pupil progress meetings take place with class teachers to ensure no child is left behind.
Statutory Assessments
In addition to the above assessments, pupils also complete the following statutory assessments:
- Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA)
- Early Years Foundation Stage Profile (end of Key Stage assessment)
- Year 1 (and 2) – Phonics Check
- Year 4 – Multiplication tables check (MTC)
- Years 2 and 6 – end of Key Stage assessments (SATs)
Reporting to parents
Parents evening take place, face to face, three times per year. In addition, parents receive a report home at the end of each term. Please see below for an example.