Using InCAS and the Annual Report Information Sessions for Principals October 2008

Session Content Todays session will: Consider feedback from the evaluations conducted to date; Provide the latest information from the Department of Education; Highlight the help and support currently available for schools Look at the variety of feedback provided by InCAS; and Outline the training planned for the year ahead.

Timings 9.30 am or 1.00 pmWelcome am or 2.00 pmTea/coffee pm or 3.30 pmFinish

Session 1 Recommendations from Final Evaluation Report on the implementation of the InCAS computer-based assessments and the Annual Report in Primary Schools during the transitional year 2007/2008: Communication; InCAS; Profiles 7 Software; and Annual Report.

Communication Recommendation 1 Communications.. should be shared between all Partners… Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

Communication Recommendation 2 At the start of the next school year CCEA should inform schools which elements of the Annual Reports are statutory. Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

Communication Recommendation 3 CCEA should provide teachers with an at a Glance guide outlining what elements of InCAS and the Annual Report are statutory and flexible. Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional Year 2007/2008.

Communication Recommendation 4 CCEA should communicate with parents on the new assessment and reporting arrangements. Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

Parent Leaflets

InCAS Recommendation 1 … additional computer capacity may be required to support the use of InCAS within Primary schools. Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

InCAS Recommendation 2 … develop expertise and confidence in both administering and analysing feedback produced from InCAS. Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

InCAS Recommendation 3 Teachers would welcome advice on how to share InCAS feedback with parents. Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

DE Response … …it will be for schools to decide whether they should report orally or in writing and the format of any such reports… whether they provide the outcomes for autumn 2008 only, or.. also provide outcomes from autumn Where a parent asks for certain information to be made available in writing or orally, this should be provided DE Circular 2008/22 Para 11, 30 September 2008.

DE Response …before the requirement to report in writing is introduced in 2009/10 DE Circular 2008/22 Para 11, 30 September 2008.

DE Response The InCAS assessments are not for any purpose related to the transfer of pupils from primary to post-primary school. DE Circular 2008/22 Para 9, 30 September 2008.

DE Response The Department/CCEA will not collect the InCAS information centrally recognising its diagnostic purpose within a class and school. DE Circular 2008/22 Para 11, 30 September 2008.

InCAS Recommendation 4 Further adaptations to InCAS are needed to meet the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and those with English as an Additional Language. Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

Profiles 7 Recommendation 1 Consideration should be given to whether Profiles 7 is the most appropriate report writing software or if an alternative should be sought and trialled. Alternatively, Profiles 7 should be developed as a matter of urgency to ensure it better meets the needs of schools completing the Annual Report. Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

DE Response When completing the Annual Report it is a matter of individual choice if schools/ teachers want to use the electronic report writing tool (Profiles 7) or not. Word versions are available or the reports can be handwritten DE Circular 2008/22 Para 16, 30 September 2008.

Profiles 7 Recommendation 2 All teachers who plan to use the Profiles 7 report writing software should be provided with appropriate training. Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

DE Response CCEA and C2k will continue to provide helpdesk support and training, including online support materials. DE Circular 2008/22 Para 16, 30 September 2008.

DE Response There are issues around data security in terms of full home access to pupil data in the context of completing reports at home, which some teachers indicated they would like to do. However, this would be the case no matter what the reporting requirements DE Circular 2008/22 Para 16, 30 September 2008.

Annual Report Recommendation1 Schools should be advised explicitly what the purpose of the Annual Reports is and in particular its role (if any) in transfer arrangements. Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

Annual Report Recommendation 2 Schools require development time to tailor comment banks and ensure all Annual Reports are personalised to individual pupils. Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

DE Response It is also a matter of school/ teacher choice whether to use the comment banks, which are optional DE Circular 2008/22 Para 16, 30 September 2008.

Annual Report Contains information about: Cross-Curricular Skills (Communication, Using Mathematics and Using ICT) Other skills (Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities) (Comment banks available for the above) Focus for Development Areas of Learning Interests and Strengths Optional Content

Annual Report Standardised: Statutory minimum content Fixed headings Attendance Flexible: Headings labelled optional can be removed Optional Content can be re-named Box sizes Font style and size Length Logo Scores

Annual Report Recommendation 3 Principals, teachers, pupils and parents would like to see marks/grades to be included within the Annual Reports. Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

DE Response Where a school would previously have provided additional information such as class test results, they will have the flexibility to continue to provide such information to parents DE Circular 2008/22 Para 16, 30 September 2008.

Annual Report Recommendation 4 Consideration should be given to moving the Focus for Development section towards the end of the Annual Report. Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

CCEA Continuing Help and Support Pupil Profile Home Page Information available for: Parents Teachers Pupils Help Desk

NI Curriculum Website

Helpdesk for Schools

Session 2 InCAS Feedback

Using the Feedback? Action for Schools ensure..learning needs of each child are assessed… ensure..effective arrangements …to identify those children in need of additional support. ensure that interventions are put in place together with monitoring arrangements…. DE Circular 2007/11 Para 7, 30 March 2007.

7 Types of Feedback Standard Feedback Scores Chart Scores Table Longitude Chart Difference Table Standardised Scores Table Age Comparison Chart

Standard Feedback

4 Levels Available

Class Scores Table Order by :GenMaths Age Equivalent Scores (Yrs:Mths) Achievement Age Name(Yrs:Mths)ReadingGenMaths Kim K9:011:612:2 Joe C9:19:210:4 Sophia R8:118:69:11 Zane C8:98:109:9 Anna M9:17:69:5 Chanelle A8:117:59:0 Molly K9:28:49:0 Alex B8:8<4:08:6 Araminta J8:107:57:11

Class Difference Table Order by :Comprehension Age Difference (Yrs:Mths) Reading Modules AgeWord Name(Yrs:Mths)RecogDecodingComprehSpelling William A9:0+1:5+4:2+3:1+1:8 Hayley T8:10+2:2+5:8+2:9+3:11 Kim K9:0+1:4+5:6+2:3* Zane C8:9+0:10-0:1+0:2+1:4 Joe C9:1-1:3+2:70:0* Emma H8:7+1:10+1:3-0:40:0 Sophia R8:11+0:9-1:5-0:4+0:11 Molly K9:2-0:8-1:3-0:5+0:3 Oliver F9:1-0:10-0:2-0:10+0:2 Araminta J8:10-0:3-1:4-1:2+0:7

Pupil Scores Table

Scores Chart

Longitude Chart

Standardised Scores Table MentalDeveloped NameReadingGenMathsArithmeticAbility Chanelle A * William A124** 122 Alex B5798* 61 Nuala B81 * * Joe C100112* * Zane C Oliver F93** 95 Emma H * Araminta J * Jake J66<55* * Kim K121132* * Molly K * Anna M * Mikey P6860* * Sophia R Hayley T125** 114

Age Comparison Chart

Training for the Year Ahead Year 4 and Year 7 Sub-cover will be provided for each teacher Using the on-line materials currently available on the NI Curriculum website Potential Training for InCAS Co-ordinators

Sharing Practice Activity

DE Advice to Principals Principals should make good use of the range of assessment information within their school, including InCAS outcomes, to ensure that standards are raised and that every child can achieve his or her full potential. DE Circular 2008/22 Para 11, 30 September 2008.

Using InCAS Feedback As a Senior Manager, reflect on the sample information provided and please identify how you could lead the use of InCAS feedback within your school : With individual pupils At class level Within the wider school context

Sharing Practice With your colleagues discuss your ideas and note them on the flipchart paper provided. Identify one member of your group to report back to the other participants.

Summary

What is involved in ? Year 5 and 6 parent meeting will take place by the end of the autumn term. Year 1, 2, 5 and 6 parents will receive an Annual Report before the end of the school year. Year 5 and 6 pupils sit Reading and General Maths InCAS computer- based assessments during the autumn term. Annual Report Assessment Parent Meeting

Further Information Further information about the curriculum, assessment and reporting continues to be made available through the: DE website: NI Curriculum website:

Evaluation