Creswick Lane, Grenoside, Sheffield, South Yorkshire S35 8NN

01142 468020

St Thomas More Catholic Primary School

Love one another as I have loved you

   

Assessment

Assessment, recording and reporting in this school is an important and central part of teaching and learning, which involves the children whenever possible. We believe that assessment is an ongoing process, which takes place in a variety of different forms. As a school, we work hard to identify what individuals, groups and whole classes need to learn in order to progress.
We then cater our teaching to suit the needs of our children.

The National Curriculum (2015) gives guidance to which objectives children should be working within depending on their Year Group and Key Stage.

 

Information for Parents: Statutory Assessments

qReception baseline assessment

Schools must complete the reception baseline assessment for each child in the first six weeks after they enter reception.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/reception-baseline-assessment-information-for-parents

 

 Key Stage 1   

Date Activity

May 


Beginning of June 

Key stage 1 test period
Phonics screening check week

Key Stage 2

May Key Stage 2 Tests

        

Multiplication tables check

Schools must administer the multiplication tables check within a 3-week period in June.

 

Scaled Scores Information

For KS2 testing, children whose scaled score is below 100 will be reported as working towards the expected standard,
children working 100-109 will be reported as working at expected standard, and children whose scaled score is 110+ will be reported as working at greater depth. 

 

Teacher assessment

As there is no test for English writing, this will be reported as a teacher assessment judgement.
This is a judgement teachers will make, based on your child’s work at the end of key stage 2.
You will also receive teacher assessment judgements for English reading, mathematics and science.

 

How can you help your child to prepare?

Teachers will make sure all pupils in their class are prepared for the tests.
There’s nothing specifically test-related that you should do to prepare your child.
You should follow the general advice teachers give about supporting your child’s education throughout the year.

 

Further Information

Your child’s teacher will be able to answer any questions you may have about the tests and teacher assessment judgements.
For more details, you can visit the website or watch these short videos for parents about the tests at Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. 

School Assessment System

As well as having statutory national testing, we use our own assessment system in school to monitor and review the progress and attainment of children across school.


Please click here to view Statutory Performance data 2019, 2022, 2023.

EYFS

The children in our Reception class are taught based on the objectives in the EYFS Framework. They are assessed using the EYFS profile.

During the first few weeks of Autumn 1, children are assessed using the DFE baseline assessment.

Assessments are then also formally inputted at the end of the autumn and spring term, and again in the summer term.

Assessments in Foundation Stage are continuous and ongoing. Any assessments/observations are recorded in each child’s portfolio.

Before an assessment level is decided, the teacher uses all the evidence gathered to make a judgement.

 

Y1 - Y6
(We assess the progress and attainment of our children’s learning in all areas of the curriculum in both formative and summative ways)
Formative
  • Checking children’s books and offering challenges (practice or deepen their learning)
  • Daily observations of learning
  • Posing a range of questions to children throughout a lesson
  • Checking through mini-plenaries and checkpoints
  • Through pre-teach, boosters and interventions
  • Children self and peer assessing
  • Through informal ‘quizzes’ and various points to assess their learning
Summative
  • In all areas of the curriculum, children’s learning will be assessed against national curriculum objectives. At the end of each term, teachers will award children with a standard Working towards Standard (WTS), working at Expected Standard (EXS) and Working at a Greater Depth within Expected Standard (GD). These standards will be reported to parents in the spring and summer terms in reading, writing and maths.
Reading
  • Children are assessed formally every term in reading. They will undertake a test which will have objectives taken from the national curriculum. The outcome of the test will support the teacher assessed judgment, and from this, each term teachers will award children a standard. (In Y1, children will only take a formal test in the summer term).
  • Early reading (FS2-Y1) is taught using the Read Write Inc Scheme. Read Write Inc assessments are carried out approximately every 8 weeks, to assess children’s progress, and to assess if children should progress to the next group. 
Writing
  • Children undertake extended pieces of writing after every unit or genre. However, there are only 6 pieces of writing which are formally assessed each year. These pieces will be assessed against the national curriculum objectives and an award will be given at the end of each term.
Maths
  • Children are assessed formally every term in Maths. They will undertake a test which will have objectives taken from the national curriculum. The outcome of the test will support the teacher assessed judgment, and from this, each term teachers will award children a standard.
Other subject areas
  • Children are assessed each term through Teacher assessment only; no ‘testing’ with take place, however there will be ‘mini quizzes’ and general end-of-unit informal tests which will assess the children’s knowledge and skills in each subject area. At the end of each term, teachers will use their judgement to award each child a standard.

  

 

REPORTING TO PARENTS:

Opportunities are provided to share assessment information with Parents or Carers. A short written report is given at the parents evening in spring, and summer terms. This report supports the verbal discussions taking place between teachers, and Parents/ Carers. Parents will receive information on whether their child is working towards, at or above national expectations, information on what their child is successful in, and any next steps that parents can support with at home. This information will be given for reading, writing, and Maths. A full written report is sent out towards the end of the summer term when further information will be given on the children’s progress and attainment in other subject areas. Year 2 and Year 6 SATs results are also reported in line with guidance from the DFE.

 

 If you would like any information on teaching, learning or assessment policies in specific subject areas then please see our subject polices or assessment policy.