Assessment & Reporting

Progress Checks

Progress check reports are sent home 3 times per year for all year groups except Year 11 and 13 who will receive 2 reports.

For each Progress Check our teachers submit a Working at Grade for every student that they teach. This is derived from a combination of assessments, class work, homework and any other work the student has been working on.  Teachers use their professional judgement when allocating the grades.

For students in Key Stage 5 the working at grades are in the form of grades A* - E (Year 13) or A - E (Year 12) for A level courses and some of the vocational courses. A small number of vocational courses report Pass, Merit, Distinction. 

For students in Key Stage 4 the working at grades are in the form of grades 1 - 9 (where 9 is the highest grade) for GCSE subjects.  Level 2 vocational courses are graded differently and can include Level 1 pass to distinction*, Level 2 pass - distinction * or even grades A* to C.

Students in Key Stage 3 are assessed against Age Related Expectations (ARE). Students are classified as working towards ARE, working at ARE or working at a greater depth to ARE.  Each department has created an ARE document to assess against.

Teachers also submit an Expectation Score for every student which reflects how well the student has met the school expectations. 

Age Related Expectations (ARE) KS3

In Key Stage 3 (Years 7, 8 &9) We measure student progress based on knowledge, skills and understanding at different ages when compared to students nationally this is known as age related expectations (ARE). 

Every subject area taught in KS3 has different criteria that students are measured against. Below you will find all the ARE for each year group.  

Assessments KS3 & KS4

For each Progress Check our teachers will carry out class assessments. These assessments will be used as part of the judgement to form working at grades. Smaller informal assessments may take place throughout the year in some subjects too.