Assessment Policy

Devonshire Primary Academy Assessment Policy

Implementation Date: September 2013 Adopted by Governors/HT: HT Review period: 1 year Last review date: September 2013 Person responsible for policy: Mrs J Smith

Devonshire Primary Academy – Assessment Policy Devonshire Primary Academy Assessment Policy

Aims At Devonshire Primary Academy we regard each of the children in our care as special and unique individuals. We aim to provide quality learning experiences within a happy, positive, stimulating, safe environment where every child is encouraged and inspired to fulfil his or her potential.

Assessment Assessment is a fundamental part of the teaching and learning process. Assessment serves five main purposes by providing information that can be: a.

FORMATIVE - providing information for the teacher to plan the next steps in a child's learning; b.

DIAGNOSTIC - informing the teacher of what a child can and cannot do; c.

SUMMATIVE - a snapshot in time of a child's overall achievement; d.

EVALUATIVE - providing information for planning evaluation and monitoring; e.

INFORMATIVE - providing feedback to pupils, teaching staff, parents/carers and other agencies.

Assessment should help teachers in the following ways: to personalise learning, matching work to ability, previous experience and to plan next steps;  to identify where specific help is required;  to help children to progress in line with Foundation Stage guidance and National Curriculum;  to evaluate the effectiveness of teaching and learning;  to track performance identifying individual needs, including Gifted & Talented and underachievers;  to raise standards throughout the school;  to promote high expectations and appropriate levels of challenge.

Our assessment practice will: be based upon clear curriculum intentions;  play an integral part in classroom activities;  be appropriate to the task;  draw upon a range of evidence;  measure progress in context and recognise achievement for all;  indicate strengths and identify areas for development;  provide information about an individuals progress;  be used to group children and to target appropriate support (learning mentors);  inform parents/carers and other agencies when required; 2

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enhance the quality of teaching and learning; to provide opportunities for the child to self assess performance and progress.

Record Keeping

It is our aim at Devonshire Primary Academy that our records will:  be informative and ensure consistency within year groups, continuity and progression between year groups;  be ongoing and cumulative;  be accessible and useful;  identify progress and achievements of each pupil;  show the attainment of each pupil;  be based upon evidence from a variety of sources;( to include APP)  be a standardised system across school.

External Assessment Children are assessed continually throughout their time at school, but formal assessments are made at specific points:   

EYFS (ongoing submitted to the authority end of Year R).

Y1 Phonic test At the end of Years 3, 4 and 5 pupils undertake optional SATs test.

At the end of Year 2 and Year 6 pupils undertake SATs tests.

Reporting to Parents Devonshire Primary Academy works in partnership with parents. Parents receive a half-termly summary of planned activities. Information about a child's achievement, strengths and weaknesses are relayed to parents in a number ways:      

informally at any time; through formal appointments at the request of parent or school; parents' afternoons/evenings; a mid year report to include present level of achievement, predicted level at the end of the year and targets to ensure children achieve their potential. an annual written report (Nursery to Year 6); personalised targets ( frequently/ as appropriate) -Foundation Stage (Reception and Nursery) next steps set using Development Matters/EYFS guidance Year 6 progress - inform parents in November and March after practice SATs.

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Devonshire Primary Academy – Assessment Policy Special Needs Please see school Special Needs Policy.

Assessment Schedule Please see Devonshire Assessment Schedule (Google Drive)

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