Regular assessment of children’s achievement is integral to successful teaching and learning.
The majority of our assessment is continuous and is a key feature of most lessons. This type of assessment is often called teacher assessment. It involves the teachers making judgements about your child’s achievements and will begin from your child’s earliest days in school. Wherever possible, teachers will involve individual children in this assessment. It helps the teacher and child to focus on what the child needs to do next in order to improve, and to celebrate the child’s achievements. Teachers will use the information from teacher assessment to plan the next steps in learning. We also use more formal assessment procedures on a regular basis.
In line with Department of Education, Sport and Culture’s policy, all children in the Foundation Stage will have their achievements recorded on an individual Foundation Stage Profile. A baseline assessment is made in the first half of the autumn term. Progress against specific outcomes is monitored throughout the Foundation Stage. The final results of this are sent to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture at the end of the child’s year in the Reception Class.
From Year 1 upwards, children are assessed through rigorous teacher assessment against National Curriculum Levels. Moderation opportunities exist within the Island to ensure that the levels awarded are consistent with other schools. These levels are analysed at the end of each term and help us to monitor progress and enable us to set appropriate targets to help move your child’s learning forward.
At the end of a child’s year in Year 2 and Year 6, their results in English, Maths and Science are sent to the Department of Education, Sport and Culture. This information will be passed to you in your child’s end of year report and for Year 6 children, to the receiving secondary school.
Records of Achievement
Throughout their time at Ballacottier Primary School each child will work towards the compilation of a Record of Achievement. A Record of Achievement contains samples of quality work which are indicative of personal progress and achievement. Children are encouraged to review and select the work to be kept in their Record of Achievement. It is your child’s property and will be taken home by your child after leaving Year 6.