Assessment

Assessment

At the Waterloo school we see assessment as an integral part of teaching and learning and is inextricably linked to our curriculum. It enables pupils to recognise their achievements and make progress. Assessment and its associated feedback are essential to pupil learning.

Good assessment allows teachers to plan and adapt their teaching to support individual pupil’s needs. It makes use of a range of reliable assessment methods through a combination of formative and summative assessments.

Class staff establish safe and trusting relationships with pupils to help develop their concept of themselves as learners and raise their self-esteem to enable them to engage in learning and prepare them to review their learning.

All class staff support learning with ‘live marking and feedback’ where a pupil is actively engaged in reviewing their work with an adult, to identify the learning objective, consider the levels of support needed and to recognise what they have done well in the areas of ‘brilliance’ which is highlighted in blue and the areas for development or ‘growth’ which are highlighted in green. This visual and oral feedback has been chosen as it is the most effective way to support the next steps in our pupil’s learning.

Twice a year all pupils are assessed in reading, comprehension, spelling and maths using standardised assessment materials. Teachers make teacher assessment judgements for attainment 3 times a year using the Evidence for Learning platform. Pupil progress is monitored through Evidence for Learning and reviewed each term by SLT in Pupil Profile Meetings with teachers.

Pupils are taught and encouraged to participate in self-assessment and peer assessment activities to make judgements about their own and others’ performance and to improve their own and others’ learning.

Phonics screening checks are conducted for any year 1 pupil or year 2 pupil who had not previously reached the required level.

Year 6 National Statutory Attainment Tests (SATS) are administered to those pupils who have been assessed as working closely to the required standard.