Policy for assessment, recording and reporting
Updated March 2015
Teacher assessment is an essential part of the national curriculum assessment and reporting
arrangements.
Why assess?
The key purpose is to move children on in their learning. Assessment should inform future
planning. We hope that by involving the children in assessing their work, it will help raise their
expectations, and thus achievements.
Planning assessments
Children are given a base line assessment when they enter the Tutorial Foundation. This enables
us to identify individual strengths and weaknesses. It enables us to monitor and evaluate the
learning programmes we are providing for the pupils and to set appropriate targets for the
pupils. These are found as an attachment to this policy.
Assessments are incorporated into the planning process. Formative assessments are made
against each lesson plan and in the case of older children, against the summary sheet for each
unit of work. (please see attached sheets)
Diagnostic Assessment
Through the base line assessments we are able to diagnose specific difficulties of individual
pupils. These are used to provide information to parents/carers and the relevant local education
authority.
Summative Assessment
Summative assessments are used to help us decide what a child can do at a particular time. This
provides a National Curriculum level of attainment as well as detailed analysis of progress and
further development. Rapid English is used to track pupils’ attainment in literacy. Students also
have the opportunity to sit GCSE exams from the modular and linear courses at Entry,
Foundation and Higher Levels. A level exams can be sat if appropriate.
Self Assessment
Self – assessment is an important part of the teaching and learning process. Students are
asked to fill out a self-assessment sheet at the end of each term as part of the reporting cycle.
(please see attached sheets)
Reporting
Reports on behaviour are kept on a daily basis.
A report is given at the end of each term. A child's attendance is noted, as well as authorized
and unauthorized absence. Parents are given the opportunity to discuss this report.
The reports are summative. They provide information on children's progression and
achievements to date on criteria set out in the baseline assessments.
Interim reports may also be given to outside agencies and to parents if this is deemed
necessary.
We have regular personal contact with the parents.
Methods of Assessment
Formal methods
Summative assessments usually involve formal methods of assessments where set tests, times,
conditions and marking schemes are prescribed and followed.
Informal methods
Formative/continuous assessments are more informal methods of assessments. Examples of
these are:
Marking/evaluating recorded written work done by pupils
Questioning
Observations
Short informal tests
Subject based tests
Recording Assessments and Keeping Evidence
Baseline Assessments
These are taken on entry to the Tutorial Foundation, and enable teachers to plan for pupils'
needs.
National Curriculum Teacher Assessment
Teachers assess pupils against National Curriculum criteria levels. Progress on these levels is
kept on termly tracking sheets.
Individual Pupil Portfolios
Samples of work are kept in portfolios. Our teachers keep copies of:
English work
Maths work
Word level check lists
Reading records for younger children
Behaviour and attendance records
AQA units of work
GCSE Course Work
Reports to Parents
Teachers complete a written report on each pupil at the end of each term, giving details of
behaviour and attendance, as well as academic performance.
Parents are sent a weekly behaviour report which outlines their attendance, points achieved in
each lesson and reasons for any warnings issued. This ensures we involve parents, students and
the school in managing students’ behaviours and commitment to study.
Transfer of records
When a pupil moves to another establishment the following records are sent:
Individual portfolios
National curriculum assessments
Individual profile folder containing any relevant personal, medical and educational details and
correspondence
Any public examination results
Any SEN forms and individual education plans devised for the child
Use and analysis of assessment results
To evaluate the effectiveness of our teaching methods, planning and resources. To identify
individual strengths and weaknesses and monitor their progress.