1. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 School Self-evaluation Context (Draft SSE Guidelines, p.5) © PDST, 2010 1 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 Click to access on-line

2. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 The National Strategy To Improve Literacy And Numeracy Among Children And Young People © PDST, 2010 2 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 To engage in robust school self-evaluation To put in place a 3 yr school improvement plan from 2012/13 Use assessment data in the 3 year plan To identify specific targets for improving Literacy & Numeracy (pg 82 / 84) Summary of Strategy Click here to access on-line

3. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 Transfer of primary school data © PDST, 2010 3 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 From 2012 – at the end of 2 nd, 4 th and 6 th class in primary school Standardised tests and report card will be used Reading -Drumcondra or Micra-T Maths – Drumcondra or Sigma-T (information on strands) Standardised testing will begin in post-primary from 2014/15 NCCA Information re analysing standardised test must be given to parents Department Circular 0056/2011 (re: transfer of data) Department Circular 0056/2011 Report Card Templates (primary school) Report Card Templates Click underlined text to access on-line

4. Transfer of information re: standardised test in reading & maths will be a STEN score STEN scoreWhat it means% of students 8-10 Well above average 17% 7 High average 17% 5-6 Average 34% 4 Low average 17% 1-3 Well below average 17%

5. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 © PDST, 2010 5 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 Parents are going to be well informed – and may have certain expectations What is a STEN score?

6. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 © PDST, 2010 6 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 Using assessment data from the end of primary school can help post-primary teachers adjust their teaching.... (p78 L & N Strategy) TrainingSharingConfidentialityInterpretationUse NEPS resource pack for PP teachers Very good explanations of tests Pages 37.....

7. STEN, Standardised Scores & Percentiles compared DescriptionSTENStandardised Score Percentile% of pupils Very high 9127 and above98-994 Above average 8119-12691-977 Above average 7112-11875-9012 Average 6104-111 25-74 17 Average 597-10320 Average 489-9617 Below average 382-889-2412 Below average 274-813-87 Below average 173 and below1-24 Getting the best from CAT p 9

8. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 Are standardised tests the same as intelligence tests? © PDST, 2010 8 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 No. Standardised tests are not intelligence tests. The main purposes of using standardised tests are to help the teacher plan your child’s learning, and to inform you about how well your child is doing in English reading and maths. When the test scores are used alongside other information gathered by the teacher through observing your child at work, talking with him/her and looking at his/her work, they show how your child is getting on in English reading and maths, and help the teacher to identify your child’s strengths and needs. NCCA information leaflet for parents

9. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 © PDST, 2010 9 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 As with other tests your child does in school, his/her result on a standardised test can be affected by how he/she feels on the test day or by worry or excitement about a home or school event. This means that each test result is an indication of your child’s achievement in English reading and maths. You play an important role in encouraging and supporting your chiId no matter what he/she scores on the test. NCCA information leaflet for parents

10. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 If my child’s score is low, what does this tell me? © PDST, 2010 10 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 A low standard score (for example, 80) suggests that your child may have difficulties in English reading or maths. One test score by itself does not give a complete picture of your child’s learning in English reading or maths. The teacher might decide to gather more information about your child from other tests, as well as his/her observations in class. You too will have additional information from helping your child with homework, and hearing him/her talking about school work. The teacher may ask a colleague called the learning support teacher to look at your child’s test scores and other assessment information. They may decide that your child would benefit from extra support with reading or maths. This extra support may be given by the learning support teacher. Your child’s teacher will talk to you about this. NCCA information leaflet for parents

11. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 Should I share the score with my child? © PDST, 2010 11 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 You know your child best. No matter what the score is, you play an important role in encouraging your child to do his/her best, and in helping your child with English reading and maths. If the score is low and your child needs extra help with English reading or maths, it may be helpful to talk to him/her about this and to see the help in a positive way. NCCA information leaflet for parents

12. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 If my child’s score is high, what does this tell me? © PDST, 2010 12 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 A high score on the test may suggest that your child is a high achiever in English reading or maths. As with low scores, one high score is not enough to confirm this. Your child’s teacher will use information from other classroom assessments to understand more clearly how well your child is doing in English reading and maths.

13. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 © PDST, 2010 13 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 Click here for interesting article We don’t want to end up teaching to the test just to get a bell curve We don’t want students to become grade enhancers or grade detractors

14. We need to remember that everyone is different

15. Conversations are important to fill in the gaps in information Tracking trends & progress is important Click here to access on-line

16. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 © PDST, 2010 16 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 Drivers of improvement requiring modest expenditure High expectations of all Positive school climate Teaching & learning methods Curriculum & Assessment Ability groupings Click here to access on-line

17. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 A’s of value added © PDST, 2010 17 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 Ability Attendance Attitude Aptitude Application Aspiration Assessment Adaptability

18. Assessment Policy Schools should establish a structured policy of school-based testing in order to identify & monitor the progress of students with literacy and /or numeracy difficulties.

19. Assessment structures Staff training Agreed procedures for selecting tests Deciding when to administer them Managing the data Sharing the data Acting on the results

20. Three classes of tests Ability General academic and problem solving ability Attainment Reading, spelling, writing, number skills Diagnostic Efficient management of information (memory, speed) +....

21. What are most PP schools doing? 1. Cognitive Ability Tests in FEB CAT 3 & Drumcondra are the most common NRIT – only useful for NEPS referral AH2, 3, 4 out of date

22. What are most schools doing? Literacy Test in September Group Reading Test 11 9-14 Group Reading Scales2, 2009 Hodder Group Test 3 (9-16+) British Spelling Test Series GH (10-14) Diagnostic Spelling Test 3-5 (Secondary – Adult) WRAT(Word reading, Sentence comprehension, Spelling) Not recommended All Schonell reading tests GAP & GAPADOL reading tests Burt or Marino word reading tests Some of the most common tests Parallel forms allows for re-testing

23. What are most schools doing? Numeracy Test in September Access Maths Test 2 (11-16+) Maths Assessment for Learning & Teaching: Stage 3 (11-15) Maths Competency Test (11-18) Progress in Maths Series (12,13, & 14) WRAT (Basic Math Computation (+,-,x, ) Not recommended Profile of Maths Skills (France) Vernon Arithmetic-Maths Tests Some schools are starting to create their own numeracy test These four tests are based on UK curriculum & use £ and imperial measurements

24. Results Data Standardised scores Percentile scores Reading ages Arithmetic-Maths ages

25. Reading/Maths Ages Should not be used to describe attainment or to track progress. It is the most ambiguous and misleading method of interpreting test performance.

26. Cognitive Ability Tests CAT3 is an assessment of a range of reasoning skills. It looks at verbal, quantitative and non-verbal reasoning. Using language & numbers to solve problems.

27. Cognitive Ability Tests Expensive & time consuming. Scoring service is available. Reports & tables – worth the investment??

28. The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 Useful Links © PDST, 2010 28 The PDST is funded by the Department of Education and Skills under the National Development Plan, 2007-2013 1.National Strategy for Literacy & NumeracyNational Strategy for Literacy & Numeracy 2.Summary of StrategySummary of Strategy 3.DES Draft SSE Guidelines for Post-primary SchoolsDES Draft SSE Guidelines for Post-primary Schools 4.Department Circular 0056/2011 (re: transfer of data)Department Circular 0056/2011 5.Report Card Templates (primary school)Report Card Templates 6.NCCA standardised tests information leaflet for parentsNCCA standardised tests information leaflet for parents 7.NEPS resource pack for PP teachersNEPS resource pack for PP teachers 8.DES approved post-primary assessmentsDES approved post-primary assessments 9.JCSP - Resources for whole-school approaches to Literacy and Numeracy and DEIS Planning GuidelinesJCSP - Resources for whole-school approaches to Literacy and Numeracy and DEIS Planning Guidelines 10.Evaluation of planning process in DEIS post-primary schoolsEvaluation of planning process in DEIS post-primary schools 11.DEIS informationDEIS information 12.ESRI - Improving Second Level Education - Using Evidence for Policy DevelopmentESRI - Improving Second Level Education - Using Evidence for Policy Development 13. Self-discipline Outdoes IQ in Predicting Academic Performance of AdolescentsSelf-discipline Outdoes IQ in Predicting Academic Performance of Adolescents