KS3 Assessment

How is attainment reported to parents?

Attainment at KS3 is reported in terms of the level of student understanding of the curriculum that has been taught in each subject area up to that point. Each subject at KS3 assesses students using clear, subject specific criteria, which is linked to the curriculum content. These are used to make a holistic judgement on whether students are:

• Emerging (E)
• Developing (D)
• Gosford Hill Expected Standard (S)
• Working Beyond (WB)

The expectation is that most students are able to reach ‘S’ and that this is a holistic judgement based on the curriculum that has been taught up to that assessment point.

These levels are not incremental. For example, you would not expect students to start in Year 7 as ‘E’ and then work up to ‘WB’ by Year 9. We know from research that progress is not linear, therefore progression should be about knowing and remembering more of the curriculum. A student that meets the Gosford Hill Expected Standard throughout KS3 will be making progress, because this will indicate that they have demonstrated a secure understanding of what they have been taught across KS3, even as the curriculum content has become more sophisticated.

Detailed KS3 Assessment Grids outlining what each individual subject assesses as Emerging, Developing, Expected Standard and Working Beyond, are linked under the KS3 Subject Assessment Grid tab.

How is effort reported to parents?

Reports to parents at KS3 all contain an effort grade, which is a reflection of both student behaviour in lessons as well as the effort that has gone into the work that they have produced.

An effort grade will be one of the following judgements:

• Excellent
• Good
• Not meeting expectations
• Poor

Homework is also reported on, reflecting both homework completion and the standard of work completed. A homework grade will be one of the following judgements:

• Excellent
• Good
• Not meeting expectations
• Poor

At Gosford Hill School we have high standards. The criteria for ‘Good’ is therefore that students actively participate and work hard in lessons, they meet homework deadlines and they are focused on their work throughout their lessons.

How often do reports go home to parents?

Years 7, 8 and 9 receive three reports a year, in the autumn, spring and summer terms. Each report reports on attainment, effort and homework in each subject.