Participation Grades

The participation grades are an assessment of work ethic, engagement and effort. They are indicative, i.e. they are not part of the degree marking system. • Participation grades are given twice a year, in February and June, alongside the marking scheme • They only apply to 1st and 2nd year classwork (not projects) • Grades will be given from A (outstanding) to E (unsatisfactory) What are we looking at? Engagement Effort Attendance and punctuality Preparation Homework Contribution

PARTICIPATION GRADE DESCRIPTORS

Note: any grade awarded below a C will lead to a meeting with your Head of Year and may trigger a warning

A - Outstanding Participation in this band shows excellent engagement with all aspects of the work. Whatever their baseline attainment level, the student makes outstanding efforts to overcome challenges and further their skills. Attendance and punctuality are faultless, and the student is always thoroughly prepared for each class. If there has been absence due to illness, the student has worked hard and succeeded in catching up on all aspects of the work missed. Homework assignments are always completed on time, with excellent attention to detail. Contribution to discussions and peer work (if applicable) is insightful, supportive and creative and often provides other students with a new perspective. B – Very good The student’s engagement with all aspects of the work is very good. Whatever their baseline attainment level, the student makes a very good effort to overcome challenges and further their skills. Attendance and punctuality are very good, and the student prepares very well for each class. If there has been absence due to illness, the student has made sustained efforts to catch up on the work missed. Homework assignments are normally completed on time and with some attention to detail. The student contributes to class discussions and collaborative work at a high level. C – Good Participation in this band shows good engagement with most aspects of the work, although it may not demonstrate the consistency of approach of the higher participation bands. The student makes some effort to overcome challenges and further their skills, although there is room for improvement.

Attendance and punctuality are fairly good, and the student is usually well prepared for each class. Homework assignments are usually completed on time but may lack a thoroughness of approach. Contribution to class discussion and collaborative work is fair. D – Satisfactory Participation in this band shows satisfactory engagement with most if not all aspects of the work. The student tends to coast rather than make great effort to overcome challenges and further their skills. Attendance is satisfactory, but often only just makes it to the start of the class on time, and preparation for class is at a basic level. If there has been absence due to illness, the student makes only perfunctory effort to catch up on the work missed. It is difficult to find evidence that the student is engaging with the work outside of class. The student either makes few contributions to class discussions and collaborative work or talks too much, making it difficult for other quieter voices to be heard. E - Unsatisfactory The student does not engage with the work in any meaningful way, they skate through class and make little or no effort to push themselves or further their skills. Attendance is patchy and the student may often be late, and it is clear the student is unprepared for class. Due to illness or injury the student has missed too many classes to be able to progress to the next level of training. It is clear that the student does no homework or any practice outside class. The student blocks the work and tries to impose their ideas on others in collaborative work and discussions.