Guide to Student Attainment and School Reports
What is a baseline assessment?
A baseline assessment can take many different forms but is essentially a means of collecting information about a child’s development or attainment at the point at which they enter a new setting or year group. These assessments are carried out in a variety of different ways from informal observations to standardised tests.
The data collected from these assessments supports educators in fully meeting the needs of each child, highlighting both their strengths and areas for development.
How is attainment measured?
In 2017, the new GCSE grading system was introduced, with papers graded from 9-1 rather than A*-G. The new numerical grades now apply to all subjects.
There is no exact equivalence between the old and new GCSEs. However, grades 7 and above are roughly equivalent to the old grades A-A*, and grades 4-6 are roughly equivalent to the old grades C-B.
On my child’s report there is a letter next to the level. What does this mean?
Each level is quite broad so each one is divided into three sub levels, e.g. 5a, 5b, 5c. Essentially these can be defined as follows:
a – your child has reached the top of the level and is working towards the next level
b – working well within the level
c – your child has started to work at the level
Should my child go up a level each time I get a report?
Not all pupils progress at the same rate, nor do they progress evenly. You may find that your child remains at the same level between two sets of reports for some subjects or they might progress only one sub level. Pupils are expected to make 2 sub levels of progress in one academic year on average.
How are my child’s targets calculated?
Our tracking system at Penarth Group School involves providing pupils with an end of Key Stage target in each subject which we intend to be both challenging and achievable. Your child’s subject teachers will use available data such as KS2 results in core subjects and the results of internal assessments to determine an appropriate target level.
These targets are not fixed and can be revised at any time. In subjects for which there is no prior assessment data (for example, French and Life Skills), a ‘generic’ target may initially be set.
Why is my child’s attainment in some subjects so much lower than in others?
Your child will not have studied some subjects e.g. French for as long as others such as English and, consequently, their attainment may well be lower.
School Report
School reports are the main way teachers and parents/carers communicate about a studen’s progress. The school report will be sent to parents/carers twice – at the end of the Spring Term and at the end of the Summer Term of each academic year.
What does the School Report show?
The school report provides information on a student’s’ current “working at” level and target level at the end of their current year.
It also provides information on attendance, their attitude to learning in each subject (effort, behaviour, and commitment) and may include a short comment on your child’s progress from a subject teacher.
There is also a column on the report table showing current “progress” in a particular subject and whether your child is “on track” to achieve their target on not.