Assessments 2020-2021 | Assessment Changes to Y7 - 9 | Mocks and Assessments - Yr 10 & 11 | Key Dates & Summary Information | Summer 2021 Year 11 Exam Timetable | Retrieval Practice Revision | Revision Planner 2020 | Revision and Yr11 Information Dec 2020 21 Video
All dates highlighted are subject to futher information following recent government annoucements and period of remote education.
Assessments 2020-2021
Prior to the start of Coronavirus pandemic we began to make significant changes to the way we assess and report to pupils and parents. The outbreak of the virus and subsequent lockdown period have not deterred us in continuing to make the changes we felt were needed.
All pupils will receive a report based on a Tick (T), Line (L) or Cross (X) system.
In Years 10 and 11 this will continue to report on a pupil’s commitment to learning -
T = Working well
L = Areas for improvement
X = Cause for concern
In Years 7-9 this will be a progress indicator -
T = Working towards the top of the target band
L = Working towards the lower end of the target band
X = Likely to be below the target band
If a Line or Cross are reported then additional codes will suggest the areas that a pupil will be challenged and supported to improve in.
Year 10 and 11 will also receive updates on the grades that they have been awarded in unit / termly assessments. These grades will be recorded using the GCSE 9-1 or Vocational D*2 – P1 grades. These grades will demonstrate the progress each pupil is making towards their aspirational target grade.
All Years
The first assessment point will be used to report on each pupil’s start to the year after returning from school closure. There will be no new assessment data included in this report.
Assessment Changes to Y7, 8 and 9
We have made significant changes to our progress, assessment and reporting systems this year. We will use the traditional format of the KS4 Tick (T), Line (L), Cross (X) system to report progress to parents in each subject. The use of the additional comments will guide parents to areas of concern in the way their child is performing. Common concerns may be home learning, effort, behaviour etc.
Parents will receive a TLX report three times in the year; early in the autumn term, before the planned parents’ evenings in the spring term and a final report in the summer term. Using this system parents will updated regularly on the progress their child is making and will be able to set targets for improvements for the next assessment window.
The TLX system in KS3 is different to the way it is used for our older KS4 pupils.
From autumn Year 7 in English and Maths and for all subjects by the end of the year, we will share and report against the most likely statistical grade that each pupil is likely to attain by the end of Key Stage 4 (Year 11).
Every year we use the Fischer Family Trust to set aspirational targets for individual subjects based on each pupil’s SAT scores (KS2), gender and month of birth. These targets are based on national data and therefore are only an indication of the grades your child is most likely to achieve. As your child moves through Key Stage 3 we will adjust the targets where we believe it is relevant to do so.
We believe that signposting the most likely outcome to pupils and parents enables us to have realistic and challenging aspirational targets that are achievable through consistent hard work and a dedicated approach to both class and home learning.
Staff will reinforce to pupils that the most likely grade is very much an estimate and that every year pupils often gain higher and lower GCSE outcomes than their target grades.
The percentage chance tables below indicate how likely a pupil is to achieve each grade 9-1 from a starting target of 4. In the second table this is presented as accumulative total.
These tables demonstrate that from the same starting target grade of 4 students do go on to gain the full range of available grades. Many make less than expected target and achieve grades 3,2, 1 and U. Many pupils do better than expected and achieve grades 5,6,7,8 and 9.
The most likely outcome is the grade 4. In this instance the initial target band will therefore be 4-5.
We will use a band of two grades to provide a most likely outcome at the end of Year 11.
Staff will then report at each assessment point whether they believe that the pupil progress is currently:
T = At the top of the target band
L = Towards the lower end of the target band
X = Likely to be below the target band
Unlike the KS4 reports the Tick, Line or Cross does not reflect the commitment to learning. Staff will indicate where classwork, behaviour, home learning etc are disappointing. This may be even where pupils are recording Ticks or Lines.
Where pupils are consistently achieving a Tick (T) it may be appropriate for them to have their target grade raised.
We would not look to reduce targets if a pupil is demonstrating poor levels of effort, classwork and/or home learning etc.
Pupils receiving an X with a lack of comments in the code columns of the report would indicate that the member of staff can see that effort and commitment is present but that the pupil is struggling with the level of challenge. In this instance it may be appropriate to reduce the target band.
We will remind pupils that the Line (L) progress descriptor is likely to be used more frequently than the Tick (T) descriptor. The Line denotes that a pupil is currently working towards their target band but is likely to have the potential to raise this further.
Looking at the comment codes that staff indicate on the report will be essential to determine if there are areas of focus to encourage your child to improve upon. Pupils will record unit test scores and assessment pieces in their books and these we encourage parents to discuss these scores as pupils sit class tests throughout the term.
Mocks and Assessments - Yr 10 & 11
We have planned to hold a series of class assessments for Year 11 in the two week period of 9th-20th November. These “mini-mocks” will be an appropriate time to test both the content learnt in Year 10, throughout lockdown and during the period back in school this year. We will provide a second assessment point in December to report the attainment of pupils in these assessments.
We have spent time in study sessions providing students will the guidance and support they need to begin their revision programmes using the most effective strategies and practices. It was disappointing not to be able to invite parents into school for our Year 11 Welcome Back and Revision Evening due to the current restrictions. The information we would have discussed on the night and that we have been encouraging the pupils to follow will be available soon.
Year 11 mocks will be held in the weeks before and after February half term. These will be conducted under the same examination conditions as the summer series window which has now been set from the 7th June until the 2nd July. We await more detail on the exact timetable and we expect that at least one Maths and one English paper will be held in the week before the half term break. Following the Mocks in February the pupils will receive their final written report and mock exam performance grades with a parents evening planned on the 25th March.
Year 10 Summer Assessments
As a result of the government announcement we will look to hold the Year 10 summer examinations in the period prior to half term in May. Further guidance will be confirmed when possible. Year 10 will receive their second assessment report in January with a parents evening planned for the 4th February. Following the Year 10 assessments parents will receive a full written report in July.
Key Dates & Summary Information
Year 11
First TLX monitoring report after autumn half term.
9-20th November – “Mini mocks” class assessments and report issued before Christmas holiday.
Full mocks either side of February half term. Full written report to follow prior to Parents evening on 25th March.
Summer exam series to start 7th June – 2nd July with English and Maths likely to be held before the May half term.
Year 10
TLX monitoring report after autumn half term.
TLX monitoring and progress tracking grades prior to parents’ evening on 4th February.
Summer examinations likely to start May 2021.
Full written report issued in July 2021.
Year 8 +9
The new KS3 TLX report is a progress indicator towards the most likely grade band at the end of Year 11 (provided by the FFT based on national data).
Target bands are aspirational targets that can be raised and lowered by subject staff based on performance and prior ability in individual subjects.
The targets bands are a most likely outcome at the end of Year 11. All grades are possible and the ones nearest to the target band are very likely.
Pupils receiving a Tick (T) are assessed as making progress towards the top of the target band.
Pupils receiving a Line (L) are assessed as making progress at the lower end of the target band.
Pupils receiving a Cross (x) are assessed as making progress below the target band.
Unlike in KS4 pupils receiving a T or an L are both making progress within their target band. Parents should pay particular attention to the comment codes that indicate areas that should be addressed in future reports.
All subjects will continue to assess pupils and this will be recorded in books. Parents’ Evenings are planned to be held for Year 8 on 18th March and Year 9 on 21st January.
Pupils will receive a third TLX report with form tutor comments in July.
Year 7
The lack of SAT data will delay the setting of target bands for our Year 7’s. This year the pupils have taken Cognitive Abilities Tests (CATs) and we are able to use these with the FFT to produce comparable target bands that the SATs would have been used for.
Year 7 will receive their first report in the autumn term. It will indicate the start they have made to life at St Augustine’s.
Tick (T) = Excellent start/ no concerns
Line (L) = Expected start / may pinpoint small issues that pupils should try to resolve.
Cross (X) = Cause for concern / reasons identified that pupils must seek to resolve.
Pupils will receive their target bands in English and Maths by the spring report and for all subjects by the summer report. This allows staff to make considered judgments on the level of challenge to set for each pupil.
Year 7 Parents’ Evening is planned for Thursday 28th February.
Pupils receive a third TLX report with form tutor comments in July.