At Northcote, we care about our children – our mission statement explains how we aim to enable pupils to maximise their potential; both intellectually and socially, by creating a stimulating, secure and caring environment in which a broad and balanced education is provided. We hope that our broad and balanced curriculum and fantastic pastoral care allow our children to achieve and be happy at our school.
The national picture for assessment in schools has never been more complicated for children and parents to understand. We hope that we can explain our ethos for purposeful assessment and how and why we carry out assessments.
We have created a system called ‘The Northcote Learning Stages’. We did this so that the children follow the same assessment process throughout their time at Northcote. Children are assessed against AGE RELATED EXPECTATIONS (learning stages).
In each year group, children are assessed against their knowledge, skills and understanding of the learning that they have been completing over periods of time. We use a range of written assessments, questioning and tasks to make a judgement on how the children are learning. Teachers and school leaders then use this information to support or challenge our children to ensure that our curriculum best suits their needs.
Assessments in the core subjects (including statutory assessments):
Assessment in EYFS
As children enter our reception, they will complete a Baseline Assessment to set targets for their future education, this is completed in the first 6 weeks. This is something that is statutory and is done in all UK primary schools. The majority of children in our reception have transitioned from nursery so we have a thorough, long running assessment profile on them as they transition into reception. As children leave reception, they will be assessed as achieving expected age related expectations or not.
Assessment in KS1
In year 1, all children will complete the statutory Phonics Screening Check – this is to assess their knowledge of all of the sounds.
In year 1 and year 2, children will be assessed in:
- Reading
- Writing (termly)
- Maths
- GPS (grammar, punctuation and spelling—year 2 only)
In year 2, children will complete non-statutory assessments, as a guide, in:
- Reading
- Writing
- Maths
Assessment in KS2
Children will be assessed termly in:
- Reading
- Maths
- GPS (grammar, punctuation and spelling)
- Writing
In year 4, children will complete their multiplication tables check (statutory assessment) – this is to determine whether year 4 pupils can fluently recall their multiplication tables. School will use the results from the check to identify pupils who require additional support.
In year 6, children sit their KS2 SATs (Statutory Assessment Tests).
We always ensure that any written assessments are completed in a non-pressure environment and we use assessment data to support our children and further develop our curriculum provision.
Assessment in science and the foundation curriculum
Assessment in these subjects is not as formal, yet just as important in monitoring the effectiveness of our curriculum provision. Assessment is ongoing and skilfully woven into the children’s teaching and learning. Teachers use questioning, observations and synoptic tasks to ensure that children are achieving and engaged in their learning.