1. Assessment Without Levels
All Souls CofE Primary School
“To be the best that we can be.”

2. Why do we assess pupils? Why do we assess pupils?
•Recognise strengths and areas for development.
•Identify ‘next steps’
•Inform parents and carers of progress
•Measure each pupil’s attainment and ensure achievement at expected standard
•Measure children’s progress yearly and between Key Stages
•Help teachers plan at an appropriate level
•Provide evidence of effective school performance

3. Previous National System: (since mid-1990’s)
Tests:
•Formal externally marked SATs tests aged 11 (Year 6: end of Key Stage 2)
•Teacher Assessment aged 7 (Year 2:end of Key Stage 1)
•All children in Year 2 and 6 given a level for Reading, Writing, Maths, Science
•Levels reported to Local Authority and used to judge schools (league tables)
Teacher Assessment:
•All children given a level at the end of the year, based on teacher assessment and in-school tests

4. Previous System of Levels
National level descriptors to dictate levels awarded.
•Consistency between schools nationally
•Clear guidelines
•Familiar-tried and tested
•Levels became primary focus
•Encouraged upward progression rather than depth and breadth of learning

5. Department for Education-September 2014
‘…the current system of levels and level descriptors –which is confusing for parents and bureaucratic for teachers –will be removed and not replaced.’
Michael Gove-June 2012
‘By removing levels we will allow teachers greater flexibility in the way that they plan and assess pupils’ learning.’
Department for Education-September 2014

6. Department for Education-September 2014
‘The curriculum must include an assessment system which enables schools to check what pupils have learned and whether they are on track to meet expectations at the end of the key stage, and to report regularly to parents.’
Department for Education-September 2014
‘Inspectors will not expect to see a particular assessment system in place.’
Ofsted Guidance-January 2015

7. Staying the same
Teacher Assessment: must still assess children and show that they are achieving at the expected National Curriculum standard for their age and making good progress.
Whole school termly assessment weeks
Year 2 and Year 6 national English and Maths tests during May
Year 1 ‘Phonics Check’

8. Changes •New end of year age-related National Curriculum standards
•New format SATs tests for Year 2 and 6 in: Reading; Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar; Mathematics
•No levels reported for any child. SATs test results will be a score, not a level
•Schools’ effectiveness judged on progress between Reception and Year 6

9. Preparing for the Changes to Assessment
Step 1
•Extensive research
•Liaised with other local schools
Step 2
•Developed our new system of teacher assessment: Learning Journeys
•Invested in new practice tests
•Staff training

10. How will your child be assessed?
•Government Baseline/Phonics Check/ National Curriculum tests
•Teacher assessment using St Vincent’s Learning Journey Assessment grids, focussed on what children have achieved in terms of the new National Curriculum standards and their next steps

11. Learning Journey Assessment
•Each year group has an assessment grid for Reading, Writing and Maths
•Every child will have their personal Learning Journey in their books
•Teachers will look for evidence of achievement and progress, recording each time a child achieves a learning step. Evidence will include work in books, practical work, tests
•Each Parents’ Evening, you will be able to take away a copy of your child’s assessment grids
•Clear, detailed picture of child’s achievements and next steps
•Encourages depth and breadth of learning
•Consistency

12. Learning Journey Assessment
At the end of the year, teachers will use the Learning Journey to summarise the child’s achievement. This assessment will be reported to parents and carers.

13. Any Questions or Feedback?

14. Example of assessment