Assessment Guidance

Our assessment guidance has been produced to provide parents and pupils with information regarding which areas of learning pupils will be assessed in near the end of Term 1 and then later in Term 3. Information regarding the specific learning pupils have been doing during the academic year can also be found in our curriculum handbooks

Assessments at the end of Term 1

In November students sit a series of end of term assessments. These assessments take place over a two week period and pupils and parents are informed of specific assessment times by homeroom teachers via the weekly update to parents. It is important to note that regular assessments are carried out by teachers throughout the year. The assessments in November are an additional progress check, and as such add to the progress and attainment data that the school gathers on all pupils. It is by tracking and analysing each individual pupil’s ongoing progress that the school is able to ensure that all pupils make progress and that no pupil is ‘left behind’. Our end of term 1 assessments have been carefully chosen by the Primary Leadership Team so that they align with our curriculum and represent an accurate measure of the progress our pupils are making.

In Years 1 and 2, the end of term 1 assessments take the form of a reading, a writing and a maths assessment.
In years 3 to 6, the end of term 1 assessments comprise a reading, a writing, a maths and a science assessment.

All other subject areas are assessed through on-going teacher assessment (formative assessment). The results of our end of term 1 assessments are reported to parents at the end of term 1 through the end of term 1 reports, and the parent conferences which take place in December.

End of Year Assessments and GL Assessments Progress Tests

In May, pupils in Primary sit a series of end of year assessments. These assessments take place over a two week period and pupils and parents are informed of specific assessment times by homeroom teachers via the weekly update to parents. The end of year assessments take the same form as our end of term 1 assessments. They are a progress check, and as such add to the progress and attainment data that the school gathers on all pupils throughout the year.

In Years 1 and 2, the end of term 1 assessments comprise a reading, a writing and a maths assessment.
In years 3 to 6, the end of term 1 assessments comprise a reading, a writing, a maths and a science assessment.

All other subject areas are assessed through on-going teacher assessment (formative assessment). In addition to the end of year assessments outlined above, pupils from Years 3 to 6 also sit GL Assessments Progress Tests in English, maths and science. The GL Assessments Progress Tests are standardised assessments that help the school to accurately measure how our pupils are performing in English, maths and science – pupil by pupil, class by class and year by year. The Progress Tests provide robust and reliable data that measures pupil knowledge, understanding and application of the core subjects.

GL Assessments Progress Test in English (PTE)	Assess students’ technical English skills (spelling, grammar and punctuation) and reading comprehension.
GL Assessments Progress Test in Maths (PTM)	Monitor students’ mathematical skills and knowledge, in areas such as number, shape, data handling and algebra, as well as their mathematical reasoning and problem-solving skills.
GL Assessments Progress Test in Science (PTS)	Measure two dimensions of science learning: science content knowledge and understanding, and working scientifically (applying science skills).

Additional information regarding the GL Assessments Progress Test Series can be found HERE

The results of our end of year assessments are reported to parents at the end of term 3 through the end of year reports, and the parent conferences which take place in June.