Devonport High School for Girls

Assessment and Reporting

Our aim is to work in partnership with parents/carers by producing regular updates on student progress which provides the relevant information needed for parents/carers to support their children in reaching their full potential.

Target setting

We are ambitious for all of our students to excel, so targets are set with this in mind. Also, a key measure for student performance is the amount of progress made by a student from Key Stage 2 (end of primary) to Middle Years (GCSE) and in the Sixth Form, from Middle Years to Upper Years (A Level). Therefore, the targets we set students challenge them to achieve their very best. Students are set initial targets during the first half of the autumn term, which are then reviewed and amended where appropriate throughout the year/course of study. At all Years, targets are based on Fisher Family Trust (FFT) estimates. FFT is a company who provide high quality performance data to help support schools in target setting and evaluation. Students are set challenging targets based upon FFT 20% estimates, which compares the past performance of similar students based on prior attainment, who ultimately achieved in the top 20% nationally for their ability.

Lower Years (Years 7 and 8)

Lower Years (Years 7 and 8) – End of Key Stage 2 results are used to indicate a student’s prior attainment. We also use baseline testing at the start of Year 7 to enhance the target setting process, and to provide a benchmark for those students who join us with no end of Key Stage 2 results. For the more creative and practical subjects e.g. Art and Physical Education, broad targets are set in the first instance but as we gain a better understanding of students strengths, these are revised throughout Lower Years. Students are set end of year targets using the new GCSE grading criteria 9 to 1 (see chart below). These end of year targets are set in line with students ultimately achieving top grades at the end of their GCSE studies in Year 11.

Middle Years (Years 9 to 11)

Middle Years (Years 9 to 11) – As with Lower Years, end of Key Stage 2 outcomes are used to indicate a student’s prior attainment. Target grades are given in the form of an end of GCSE grade, or the grade a student should be working towards through their GCSE course. Targets are given using the new GCSE grading criteria 9 to 1 (see below).

Upper Years (Years 12 and 13)

Upper Years (Years 12 and 13) – A students GCSE average point score is used to indicate prior attainment. Target grades are provided from the start of Year 12 in the form of an end of A Level grade, or the grade a student should be working towards through their A Level course.

For all Years, students and parents/carers are informed of subject target grades via Edulink. Target grades are also indicated on progress reviews x 3 per academic year.

Progress

Progress

Parents/carers are kept informed of student progress throughout the academic year in the following ways:

Three progress reviews per year with approximately one produced per term
One parents/carers evening
Edulink One

Dates for the assessment calendar are indicated on the school calendar on the website.

Progress reviews

Progress reviews provide a general overview of a student's progress. For each subject area the following information is provided:

An indication of a student’s behaviour for learning. Separate grades are given for both Attitude and Organisation using the following grades – O = Outstanding, G = Good, I = Inconsistent and P = Poor.
Target grade (see above).
The predicted grade gives an indication of the end grade a student in the lower years, middle and upper years, is likely to achieve if they continue making the same progress to date.

Parent/carer evenings

The dates for Parents/Carers evenings are available on the school calendar. You will receive communication from the school to advise you when to book your appointment for your child's Parents/Carers evening. We have an intuitive and easy to use online appointment booking system. SchoolCloud Parents Evening allows you to choose your own appointment times with teachers, and you will receive an email confirming your appointments. Please click on the button below to arrange a parents evening appointment.

Parents/carers can also track student progress via Edulink One. Parents/carers of all students are provided with a unique username and password which gives access to the following information about their child: