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 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.

Regular assessments are carried out by Primary teachers throughout the year. Our assessment periods in Term 1 and Term 3 are an additional progress check which adds to the progress and attainment data that the school continuously 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’.

Term 1 Assessments

During the second half of Term 1, Primary students sit a series of assessments in order to help teachers assess progress in core curriculum areas. These assessments take place over a two week period and pupils and parents are informed of specific assessment times in a timetable shared by the Homeroom Teachers.

Our 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 Term 1 assessments will assess reading, writing and maths.
In Years 3 to 6, the Term 1 assessments will assess reading, writing, maths and science.

All curriculum areas are also continually assessed using formative teacher assessment strategies which are on-going in lessons throughout the year. The results of our Term 1 assessments are reported to parents at the end of Term 1 as a grade in the end of term reports, and also at the parent conferences (PTCs) which take place in December.

End of Year (Term 3) Assessments/GL Assessments Progress Tests

In May, Primary pupils take 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 in a timetable shared by the Homeroom Teachers.

Similar to the Term 1 assessments, the Term 3 assessments 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 Term 3 assessments will assess reading, writing and maths.
In Years 3 to 6, the Term 3 assessments will assess reading, writing, maths and science.

All curriculum areas are also continually assessed using formative teacher assessment strategies which are on-going in lessons throughout the year.

The Term 3 assessments take the form of the GL Assessments Progress Tests in English, maths and science. These are standardised assessments used in schools throughout the world that help us 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 in the core subjects. From this data we can accurately identify clear targets to help further progress and development as the children continue on their learning journey through Primary and HeadStart.

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).

Separate writing assessments are used to further assess the children’s progress and attainment in writing.

The results of our Term 3 assessments are reported to parents at the end of Term 3 as a grade in the end of term reports, and also at the parent conferences which take place in June/early July.