Assessment in Key Stage 3

Assessment in Key Stage 3 at Acorn House is continuous and allows the students to demonstrate their achievement according to the objectives for each subject.

Assessment tasks include:

Open-ended, problem-solving activities
Research projects and investigations
Hands-on experimentation
Design projects
Analysis and reflection
Peer and self-assessment
Specific oral interrogation or written test at the end of work unit

When a student is given a work or an assignment, the teacher provides Success Criteria with which the student’s work will be graded. Success Criteria describe what must be done to be successful.

Students are assessed against specific standard clarified to them by teachers and available as reference.

Student’s achievements are communicated and targets for improvements are established together. Marking is regularly reported in the Regel digital system open to parents’ scrutiny. Achievements are translated into grades following the KS3 Assessment & Marking Policy.

At Acorn House two report cards summarise how the student progressed in the term/year: An Interim Report in January and a Final Report in June.

Positive notes may be posted, via Regel System, when a student is performing particularly well or has made remarkable improvement. In case of special mention successes are published on the Acorn House website as a particular award. Request for a meeting with parents/teachers/department coordinator may be sent any time if a student is consistently or suddenly performing below his/her potential.

Rationale

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Marking

Marking is an essential part of planning, assessment, teaching and learning. Responding to pupils’ work through constructive comment acknowledges achievement, promotes positive attitudes and behaviour and leads to an improvement in standards. Teachers follow consistent procedures in responding to pupils’ work in order to give clear messages to pupils highlighting targets for improvements, to parents and other teachers about individual progress and possible need of reinforcement.Evidence of teachers’ response to children’s work can be found recorded in books, but much of Key Stage 1 work is practical and much response is verbal. A great deal of verbal praise is given. We use our judgement as professionals in a constructive way when working with young learners to take them forward.

Aims

Assist learning
Provide information for assessment
Encourage, motivate, support and promote positive attitudes
Inform planning
Promote higher standards
Correct errors and clear up misunderstandings
Recognise achievement, presentation and effort
Provide constructive feedback
Show pupils that we value their work
Allow pupils to reflect on their past performances and to set new targets together with the teacher.

Objectives

At Acorn House marking is:

Constructive
Related to needs, attainment and ability
Related to specific targets and learning objectives which are shared and made clear to the pupils in advance
Following a consistent practice throughout the school
Ensuring that pupils know how well they are doing and what they need to improve to make further progress
Providing pupils with opportunities to assess their own work and that of others
Positive and constructive with appropriate praise given.
Setting targets for children to ensure pupil motivation and involvement in progress
Encouraging a dialogue between teacher and child