Marking and Assessment
How OFTEN is students’ work marked and assessed?
- At the end of every unit of work, students’ work is assessed and graded.
- A unit is every half term
Attainment Grades for Key Stage Three
- Students are awarded Attainment Grades based on National Curriculum Levels for KS3 as follows: N. C. level (1 to 8) with up to 3 steps (C,B and A) in between. For example level 3C, then 3B, then 3A then level 4C
Effort Grades for Key Stage Three
- Students are awarded Effort Grades based on a consistent system used across the school as follows: Ex(cellent), G(ood), V(ariable) or P(oor)
Target
- Students also agree a target with the teacher which is monitored by the teacher; when work is marked, progress against the target(s) is monitored.
RECORDING
- These grades and targets are recorded on an assessment sheet kept in school in a subject file.
HOMEWORK
- Each week, homework is checked and students are placed in Directed Study Support if it is not completed.
Marking Symbols
When a long piece of student’s writing is marked and assessed, the following symbols will be used by all teachers on students’ written work: (note: this system mainly applies to English and Humanities subjects).
| Sp | Spelling mistake |
| ? | Does not make sense; look again |
| // | New idea, new paragraph |
| ^ | Missing word |
| Word | Do not use the underlined word |
| C | Use a capital letter |
| E | Give evidence to support your statement |
| O | Target punctuation placed in a circle |
| √ | Good point |
| √√ | Excellent point |
- Detailed marking of a significant piece of work or range of work is undertaken by teachers at regular intervals throughout the year. Written comments describing strengths and weaknesses and setting targets in relation to previous performance are included.
Parents
- Parents or carers will be invited to come into school on Academic Review Days (ARD) to meet teachers and tutors and review progress. These are held termly. You will receive notice of these in plenty of time.
- Parents and carers are encouraged to contact the school if they are concerned that the Marking and Assessment Policy is not being operated effectively.