Life after Levels How we assess learning at Valence Primary School December 2015

Nationally, children in Y1 – Y6 used to be assessed by using a system known as ‘levelling’. Each term, teachers would say what level a child was on. There were nationally agreed levels for the end of each year group. The levels were matched to the National Curriculum.

The new National Curriculum officially started in September Valence started in September The expectation was raised for every year group. This meant that the old levels no longer matched the new National Curriculum. But the Government did not give us anything to replace levels with!

The curriculum is now split into year groups. There is now a list of ‘End of year expectations’ for each year group. This means most children are expected to achieve them. The emphasis is now on consolidating and extending pupils within their own year group’s curriculum.

At the end of each term we judge where pupils are in relation to their own year group’s curriculum. We do this for maths, reading and writing. We do this in two ways – testing and teacher assessment.

Testing We use various tests in Maths and Literacy to help us assess what the children can do. Finding out what they can’t do, helps us plan for what to do next.

Teacher assessment This is the teacher judging where a child is in relation to their year group’s curriculum based on the child’s day to day work, rather than in a test situation.

We are using a new assessment system called Target Tracker. This system is now the most widely used in the country. Comprehensive recording system Powerful data analysis tool Detailed Gap analyses / planning at a variety of levels

Bands A list of the end of year expectations for each year group is written in bands. There are six bands, roughly one per year group from year one to year six. Statements Each band is made up of statements that include key performance indicators. The teacher ticks off the statements for each child as they achieve them.

Steps There are six per year group - Beginning (Steps 1 and 2) - Within (Steps 3 and 4) - Secure (Steps 5 and 6) At the end of a term, the teacher can look at how many of those expectations have been met by a child, to see how far along they are towards meeting the end of year expectations.

Separate meetings will be held for parents of children in Y2 and Y6 in the Spring term to talk about the new SAT tests. Another meeting for all parents will be held in the summer term to explain how we are going to be reporting results to you.

This PowerPoint will be put on the school’s website. We will also include all the band statements for reading, writing and maths for each year group.

Any Questions?