1. Assessment and Reporting 2017

2. National Curriculum and Assessment
The new National Curriculum was introduced in 2014
From 2015, children were no longer assessed using levels
The removal of levels is key to implementing the new curriculum and also raising standards by enriching learning.
The rationale for removing levels:
Distorted the purpose of in school assessment, particularly day to day formative assessment.
Levels became viewed as thresholds and teaching became focussed on getting pupils to the next level instead of ensuring children were secure in knowledge and understanding.
Depth and breadth of understanding were sometimes sacrificed in favour of pace.
Levels used a ‘best fit’ model which meant that a pupil could have serious gaps in their knowledge and understanding but still achieve that level. The pressure generated by the use of levels led to a curriculum driven by attainment targets, levels and sublevels.
Levels came to dominate all forms of assessment.
Progress became synonymous with moving to the next level but progress can involve developing deeper or wider understanding, not simply moving on to ‘harder’ work.
Schools were given the freedom to develop own assessment systems

3. National Curriculum and Assessment
The National Curriculum sets higher expectations for children at the end of each year.
The content of the curriculum is broken down for each year group – this is called the Programme of Study.
The government have developed performance descriptors for the end of Key Stages (Year 2 and 6)
Schools then decide the assessment descriptors to use for other year groups
The National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) along with Hertfordshire and Sheffield Local Authorities created Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to assess children throughout all year groups.
Marlborough Primary have used these to develop a manageable and robust assessment and tracking system that is used to make teacher assessments, inform planning and is easily understood by teachers, governors, parents and children.

4. Assessment at Marlborough Primary
Each year group has a corresponding number Progress is measured using letters alongside these numbers
Year Group
Level
Year 1 1
Year 2 2
Year 3 3
Year 4 4
Year 5 5
Year 6 6
Emerging E
Typical attainment of pupils at age-related national expectation at the end of the Autumn term.
Developing D
Typical attainment of pupils at age-related national expectation at the end of the Spring term.
Secure S
Typical attainment of pupils at age-related national expectation at the end of the Summer term.
Mastery M
Pupils working above age-related expectations

5. Assessment Outcomes
Teachers complete assessments at the end of each term – using standardised assessments and evidence in books and from lessons.
An assessment of ‘Secure’ is the expected end of year expectation for each year group. A child achieving National Expectations at the end of Year 3 will therefore be judged as a 3S at the end of the Summer Term.
Progress over an academic year is expected to be 3 steps: E – D – S
In order for children to make a step of progress each term, they must be assessed as having achieved the knowledge, skills and understanding in at least 65% of the performance objectives taught.

6. Mastery
If children are assessed to be working above age related expectations at the end of an academic year, they will judged as ‘M’.
They will not begin the programme of study for the following year, but will be extended to develop in their reasoning, understanding and using and applying skills.

7. Below National expectations
Children working below age related expectations will be working at a programme of study that is most suitable to meet their needs.
They may be working from performance objectives from lower year groups and will be assessed at this level.

8. Progress and tracking
Children entering Reception will complete EExBA assessments.
This will provide a baseline assessment from which progress can be measured and tracked right through to Year 6.
The system in place at Marlborough Primary School will enable us to measure progress within a year and over time – allowing us to provide personalised learning to support the needs of all children.

9. End of Year Reporting
In line with this new assessment system we have developed our end of year reports.
In July, you will informed of where your child is working at, and whether this is within, below or above age related national expectations.
1 = Below average 2 = Average 3 = Above average
You will also be informed as to the effort your child has demonstrated in each subject throughout the year.
1 = Improvement needed 2 = Good 3 = Outstanding

10. End of Year Reporting