KS3 Assessments

Each department has an appropriate curriculum plan to match the school Assessment. Recording and Reporting calendar. All subjects assess students to identify and address gaps in students’ learning and to best secure key concepts to ensure progression through the curriculum for all students. Students sit formal assessments in all subjects. These happen twice a year in Year 7 and 8 and three times a year in Year 9. The dates of these Assessment Windows are published at the start of each year, as detailed below. The results of these assessments, together with the teacher assessed grade, and an outline of how each student can improve, will be reported home three times a year.

In our KS3, all subjects have an overlapping pathway approach which challenges all students to achieve their full potential, whatever their prior attainment. Each subject uses a Progress Ladder to support assessment judgements that links into clear assessment criteria. We use the following system to categorise students’ progress and inform classroom-based interventions in the 1st instance.

1 = Exceeding expected progress
2 = Making expected progress
3 = Below expected progress
4 = Cause for concern

Our Assessment Policy states that formative feedback takes place in KS3: 

  • once a half-term for non-core subjects;
  • twice a half-term for core subjects.  

Formative assessments must reflect:

  • the lesson objectives and learning outcomes from previous teaching;
  • milestones in the student’s learning route;
  • the rigour and challenge associated with students making outstanding progress.

In addition to formative assessment, teachers will use ‘day to day assessment’:

  • This ‘live marking’ or ‘assessment at the point of learning’ feedback can be verbal or written.
  • It must ensure that students’ work is well-presented, organised, of appropriate detail and quality and commensurate with the student making outstanding progress.

Year 7 Events Calendar:

EventDate
Welcome Event12/9/23
Assessment Window 15/2/24-8/3/24
Assessment Window 217/6/24 – 5/7/24
Progress Reports Sent HomeWeeks Commencing:
6/11/23
11/3/24
15/7/24
Virtual Parents Evening18/7/24

Who should I contact if I need to discuss my child’s progress?

  • Mr R Stow- Year 7 Learning Leader
  •  Curriculum Leader
  •  Senior Leadership Team:
    Mr I Young – Principal
    Mr I Murphy – Vice Principal
    ELG – Mrs L Cross – Director of Stakeholder Academic Engagement

Year 8 Assessment Calendar:

EventDate
Assessment window 113/11/23 – 1/12/23
Assessment window 222/4/24 – 10/5/24
Progress reports sent homeWeeks Commencing:
11/12/23
26/2/24
20/5/24
Virtual Parents’ Evening23/5/24

Who should I contact if I need to discuss my child’s progress?

  • Mr S Harvey – Year 8 Learning Leader
  •  Curriculum Leader
  •  Senior Leadership Team:
    Mr I Young – Principal
    Mr I Murphy – Vice Principal
    ELG – Mrs L Cross – Director of Stakeholder Academic Engagement

Year 9 Assessment Calendar

EventDate
Assessment Window 12/10/23 – 20/10/23
Assessment Window 226/2/24 – 15/3/24
Assessment Window 317/6/24 – 5/7/24
Progress Reports Sent HomeWeeks Commencing:
6/11/23
25/3/24
15/7/24
KS4 Curriculum Evening Event25/1/24
Virtual Parents’ Evening30/11/23

Who should I contact if I need to discuss my child’s progress?

  • Miss S Smith – Year 9 Learning Leader
  •  Curriculum Leader
  •  Senior Leadership Team:
    Mr I Young – Principal
    Mr I Murphy – Vice Principal
    ELG – Mrs L Cross – Director of Stakeholder Academic Engagement