Science Department Marking Policy
Marking – best practice will include:
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SMART teacher comments / targets
References to pupils’ current level and target level
Dialogue with students (responding to teacher questions / tasks)
Comments that demonstrate to pupils how to make progress
Incorporating DIRT time into lessons so that students can respond appropriately
All Key Stages
All books must contain
A Start of Year / Target Level sticker
Evidence of literacy – keywords, definitions, labelled diagrams,
extended writing.
Evidence of numeracy – graphs, magnification, statistical
analysis, equations.
Presentation slide – title, date, CW/HW clearly marked.
Learning outcomes in form of checklist sheet or progress
tracking sheet for topic/unit.
Record of assessment sheet
Teacher Comments on all Minimal but purposeful, subject specific and used to
Marking Stickers
consolidate and/or extend pupils knowledge. e.g. practise
question, correction of question/work, challenge question,
catch up on missed work, extended writing, problem solving,
research, hint or next step.
Presentation, literacy and numeracy specific comments where
appropriate.
Key Stage 3
Formal Assessments
Marking expectations
(min)
End of topic test throughout the year to be levelled/graded
(with DIRT built in for student reflection for at least one test
per half term) and recorded on record of assessment sheet.
1 traffic light sticker per half term or per topic. (with DIRT built
in for student reflection)
Evidence of peer and/or self-assessment throughout the year.
Key Stage 4
Formal Assessments
Marking expectations
(min)
Formal assessment tests for each topic throughout the year to
be graded. (with DIRT built in for student reflection for at least
one assessment per half term) and recorded on record of
assessment sheet.
1 traffic light sticker per half term or per topic. (with DIRT built
in for student reflection).
Evidence of peer and/or self-assessment throughout the year.
Controlled assessments and coursework formally marked
throughout the year.
Key Stage 5
Formal Assessments
Marking expectations
DIRT time examples for
all key stages.
Regular formal assessments throughout the year to be graded.
(with DIRT built in for student reflection for at least one per
half term) and recorded on record of assessment sheet.
1 traffic light sticker per half term or per topic. (with DIRT built
in for student reflection).
Evidence of peer and/or self-assessment throughout the year.
Controlled assessments and coursework marking throughout
the year.
Where appropriate coursework/controlled assessment
marking will replace folder marking for that marking cycle.
Traffic light sticker
Student Self Assessment Sheet
Purple page of progress
Verbal Feedback stamp
5 minute reflection plan
Exit Stickers
Green pens – peer/self assessment
Purple pens – improving/redrafting work.