Assessment

Progress Tracking

At Cantell, we use a range of approaches to track students’ progress, from low stakes, in class, quizzes and assessments through to classwork, homework and formal annual exams.

We provide written reports to students and parents following each Data Collection (DC) Point. These take place in the second half of each full term:

• DC1 (Autumn Term) – CTL Report and Academic Progress Report. Sent to students and parents at the end of the autumn term.
• DC2 (Spring Term) – CTL Report and Academic Progress Report. Sent to students and parents at the end of the spring term.
• DC3 (Summer Term) – CTL Report and Academic Progress Report. Sent to students and parents at the end of the summer term.

CTL Reports

CTL (Commitment to Learning) Reports are issued four times each academic year.

The CTL report provides a summary of each young person’s behaviour and effort in school during that data collection period.

Within the report, the CTL Average is the average of all Behaviour and Effort CTLs. This places each student in a CTL band between gold and red.

• Students in the gold group have done exceptionally well across all subjects.
• Students in the green group have done very well across most subjects.
• Students in the yellow group have done well in some subjects but should aim to move up into the green or gold group by reducing 3s and 4s from their CTLs.
• Students in the orange group are below the standard we would expect so need to focus on improving their CTLs during the next data collection period.
• Students in the pink or red groups need to make immediate improvements to their behaviour and effort in order to move out of these groups as quickly as possible.

Homework

Students and parents are able to monitor completion of homework using the Satchel One – Show My Homework app.

Academic Reports

The Year 7 to 9 Academic Reports provide an overview of students’ academic progress in each subject and includes an attainment threshold for each subject.

Attainment Threshold

For each subject, a student is placed into one of five attainment thresholds which shows how securely they are making progress through the subject curriculum.
This is based on class work, assessments and home learning.

Years 10 – 11 (Key Stage 4)

The Year 10 and 11 Academic Report provides an overview of students’ academic progress in each subject and includes a current and predicted grade for each subject. These grades are holistic in nature, reflecting the class work, homework and any assessments so far in the course.

GCSEs and BTECs are a two year course; as a result current and predicted grades remain indicative at the early stages of the course and become an increasingly reliable indicator of the final grade as students progress through year 10 and 11.

Current Grade

This is the grade a student is currently working at. It reflects the quality of work produced in class, for home learning and during assessments.

Predicted Grade

The predicted grade is the overall grade a student is predicted to secure, based on the progress they have made in the subject so far. In order to achieve the predicted grade, a young person must act upon their teacher’s advice and feedback. This will include completing class work and home learning to the best of their ability and undertaking independent revision throughout the course.

In some subjects, typically those that are assessed by a final exam, we expect students’ current grades to gradually move upwards towards their predicted grade during the course of Year 10 and 11. This reflects their increased knowledge and exam skills. In other subjects, typically courses with coursework units throughout the course, we expect a student’s current grade to be in line with their predicted grade. This reflects the fact that a completed piece of coursework will not be improved to a better grade later in the course.

Fine Grades

Current and predicted grades are followed by a decimal value .1, .2 or .3.

This gives an indication of how secure we believe your child is at a particular grade. For example:

1. This student is very securely a grade 4 and could go on to achieve a grade
2. This student is securely a grade
3. This student is just performing at a grade 8, but might go down to a grade 7

Ongoing Communication

We always welcome contact with parents and encourage a regular dialogue between school and home. Parents are encouraged to email their child’s teachers directly if they have subject specific questions or contact their child’s Head of Year if they have general questions or concerns.

Annual Assessments

Annual Assessments provide an opportunity for students to consolidate their knowledge and understanding of the work covered during the academic year and provide an experience of the types of assessment that are undertaken in Year 11 during BTEC or GCSE courses. The assessments will be appropriate to the course. Subjects that are typically assessed by examination at GCSE will usually be taken in a large exam hall. Other subjects will use different methods of assessment – a performance in music, programming in Computer Science or speaking and listening assessments in languages.

Each subject teachers will provide guidance, in class, to assist students to prepare for assessments.

Annual Assessments 2022-23

For students in year 7 – 10, the Annual Assessments will take place in the weeks beginning Monday 24^th April, Tuesday 2^nd May and Monday 8^th May 2023.
Your child will receive detailed information and an exam timetable towards the end of the spring term.

Year 11 Mock Examinations

Mock exams are an excellent opportunity for students to experience what the GCSE exams will be like and for teachers to identify students’ strengths and areas for focus during the final months prior to the real exams.

Year 11 Mock Examinations

Year 11 mock examinations take place in November and February each year.

Mock set 1 – Monday 31 October 2022 – Thursday 10^th November 2022

Mock set 2 – Monday 6 February 2023 – Friday 10^th February 2023