Assessment KS3

In English, we assess a wide range of knowledge and skills. Besides ongoing classroom assessments, we test students' spelling and use of new words with weekly vocabulary quizzes. At the end of every half term, students also take a skills assessment; these assessments are longer pieces of independent writing and require students to make use of all of the knowledge and skills they have covered in previous weeks.

Here is an example:

Students write the word as the teacher calls it out and must select the correct definition. This test is the culmination of a week of reviewing, revising, using and practising the words; vocabulary is returned to periodically to ensure it is retained. As these tests are done on a Google form, students and teachers receive immediate feedback on how well students have done.

The vocabulary lists for the academic year of 2019/2020 can be viewed here: year 7 - year 8 - year 9

Above are examples of a year 7, 8 and 9 skills assessment. The task is outlined clearly with the inclusion of time restrictions to ensure a consistent picture of what students across a year group can produce independently.

On the final page of each skills assessment is a table relating to our mastery rubrics. The skills of reading and writing are broken down into four areas as follows:

For each of the areas of the reading and writing skills students will receive one of the following levels:

Emerging Developing Secure Mastering

These relate the following mastery rubric documents. By matching the level given to the rubric, students (and parents) can best understand what the student has and hasn't demonstrated in this piece. When a students is between levels, a combined level is given (e.g. Developing/Secure)

As a rule, we do not add letter grades to individual pieces of work. By offering more detailed feedback directly related to the skills and knowledge needed for success in our subject, we hope that these key assessments will spur an ongoing conversation between teacher and student about what students need to do next to continue to improve.

Report grades are a holistic overview of the following:

• Key assessments
• Vocabulary quizzes
• Classwork
• Contributions to class discussions
• Homework

Students are instructed to take each skills assessment (at the end of every half term) home to be signed by a parent. If you don't receive it, speak with your child and/or contact their English teacher.