Year 11: Assessment and Curriculum Guide for Parents

Introduction

This document has been devised to help you to understand assessment practices used at the school and how

to support your child’s learning and progress. The content has been informed by feedback from parental

forums; I hope that you find it useful. Please read this alongside the curriculum handbooks which are

available on the LVC website. If you have any further queries, please contact individual teachers or the

school’s Data Manager Alison Miners (alison.miners@lvc.org).

Why is assessment important?

Assessment plays a fundamental role in learning: it helps students and teachers to identify what has been

learnt, the skills that have been mastered and what needs to improve further. Most importantly, it guides

and supports students with the next steps in their learning. High-quality assessment can have a very positive

impact on students’ learning and progress.

What kinds of assessment are there?

There are two main forms of assessment, summative and formative.

Summative assessment provides a judgement about how students have achieved in a particular test or

assignment. Assessment outcomes are awarded a grade and usually take place at the end of a unit of study.

Formative assessment involves teachers using a variety of methods to diagnose specific areas to improve,

and support students in doing so. Formative dialogue is comment-based and occurs throughout the learning

cycle.

The style and type of feedback used will depend on its purpose and the nature of the subject. In practical

subjects, the majority of the feedback will be verbal, with teachers providing students with instant, live

feedback through coaching and conversation. In other more essay-based subjects, feedback will take the

form of regular written comments. Peer and self-assessment will also be used to help students become

familiar with success criteria and be able to evaluate and recognise accurate and effective learning

outcomes.

How and when will my child be assessed?

Each department has their own key assessed pieces of work in their schemes of learning for each year group.

These are outlined in section 2 of this document. Key summative outcomes are marked with a grade. In

subjects where students have four or more lessons a fortnight, there will be at least one key assessment

outcome per half term. For subjects taught less frequently, there will be at least one key assessment a term.

The results of summative assessment pieces are recorded on subject mark books in Go4Schools.

Alongside these assessed pieces of work, teachers will carry out ongoing assessments and give students

regular formative feedback to help them to improve. This will usually be shared using the WWW/EBI stamp

(‘What Went Well’ and ‘Even Better If’). Teachers will also provide students with timely feedback in lessons

and through the use of specific praise.

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How will my child be graded?

In Year 11, the majority of subjects are using 9-1 grading (Statistics, Business Studies, Product Design, Health and Social Care and Engineering are the only exceptions). What do the new 9-1 GCSE grades mean?

An indication of how these new grades will match with the old A*-G standard is shown in the table. The

proportion of students achieving each grade will be fixed by the QCA

(Qualification and Curriculum Authority) as indicated.

What level / grade should I expect my child to be achieving?

The majority of 11-year-old children are expected to achieve Level 4 by the end of Year 6. The national expectation for students at the end of Year 9 is to achieve a Level 6 to secure two levels of progress in Key Stage 3. However, attainment and achievement is always down to individual students. Children will differ in terms of their attainment (levels and grades awarded); what is important is that they progress and achieve in line with their ability. Children develop at different rates and have unique learning dispositions, therefore while national benchmarks are useful, it is always best to focus on students’ individual learning journeys. Personal progress is a far better measure of achievement than levels or grades obtained.

KS2 Level KS3 (Year 9)

Level

KS4 GCSE Grade 9-1

(expected progress)

KS4 GCSE Grade A*-G

(expected progress)

3c 5c 2/3

D 3b 5b

3a 5a

4c 6c 4/5

C 4b 6b

4a 6a

5c 7c 6/7

B/A 5b 7b

5a 7a

6c 8c 8/9

A/A* 8b

8a

What is Go4Schools?

Go4Schools is an online electronic mark book that enables teachers to record assessment outcomes

centrally and share them with colleagues, students and parents. Go4Schools is also used for school reports

and recording praise, behaviour and intervention. You should have login details and a password to access

your child’s progress data on Go4Schools. If you have not logged on before or have forgotten your password,

you can register on the parent home page for a password update.

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What can I see on Go4Schools?

You are able to see an overview of your child’s assessment data which includes their agreed target, and an

overview of their assessments in each subject (see snapshots of a Year 10 student below). You will also be

able to view details of individual assessments by clicking onto subject data and looking at marks, levels or

grades held in subject mark books. Please see an explanation of the different grade types below. The

quantity of assessment recorded on Go4Schools will increase during the academic year – the first half term

will have limited information in place.

You can click on individual subject assessments to find out

specific assessment details.

How do I make sense of the data on Go4Schools?

The most important way of understanding your child’s progress is to discuss it with them. While we have

endeavoured to set out Go4Schools mark books in a straightforward way to make them accessible for

parents, their primary purpose is to support teachers with their recording and monitoring of assessment. We

hope that engaging in assessment data online in this way will be helpful. However, it is important to

recognise that students’ exercise books and the conversations that you have with them and their teachers

can provide a far richer understanding of their learning and progress.

Susan Gelder

Assistant Principal

November 2017

Agreed Target

This is the target set by class teachers in the first term of the year in consultation with the student and should anticipate students making at least the same progress as those pupils nationally with the same KS2 attainment.

Current Grade

This is a weighted average of the assessments your child has completed in the academic year.

Estimated Grade

This is the grade that your child’s teacher believes that they are most likely to achieve by the end of the GCSE course.

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Section 2

Curriculum and Assessment

Guides by subject

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Contents

Art and Design

Business Studies

Computing

Dance

Drama

English

Food & Nutrition

French

Geography

Health & Social Care

History

Mathematics

Music

Product Design

Physical Education

Religious Studies

Science

Spanish

Statistics

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Art & Design Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: Pearson Edexcel Level 1/Level 2 GCSE (9-1) in Art and Design

Link to specification: https://qualifications.pearson.com/content/dam/pdf/GCSE/Art%20and%20Design/2016/specification-and-sample-assessments/SAMs-GCSE-ArtDesign-2016.pdf

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Business Studies Year 11

Grading scheme used: Level 1 Pass, Level 2 Pass, Merit, Distinction, Distinction*

Name of BTEC course and code: BTEC Level 1/2 First Award in Business 600/4786/0

Link to specification: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-firsts/business-2012-nqf.html

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Computing Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: OCR J276

Link to specification: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-computer-science-j276-from-2016/

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Dance Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: GCSE Dance (8236)

Link to specification: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/dance/gcse/dance-8236

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Drama Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: OCR Drama GCSE J316

Link to specification: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-drama-j316-from-2016/

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English Language and Literature

Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE courses and code: WJEC Eduqas English Language C700QS and WJEC Eduqas English Literature C720QS

Link to specification: http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/english-language/gcse/wjec-eduqas-gcse-english-lang-spec.pdf http://www.eduqas.co.uk/qualifications/english-literature/gcse/eduqas-gcse-english-literature-spec-from-2015.pdf

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Food & Nutrition Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: OCR Food, Preparation and Nutrition J309

Link to specification: http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/234806-specification-accredited-gcse-food-preparation-and-nutrition-j309.pdf

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French Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: AQA French: 8658

Link to specification: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/french-8658

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Geography Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: Geography B for enquiring minds J384

Link to specification: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-geography-b-geography-for-enquiring-minds-j384-from-2016/

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Health and Social Care Year 11

Grading scheme used: Pass, Merit, Distinction, Distinction*

Name of GCSE course and code: Btec First Award in Health and Social Care (120 GLH)

Link to specification: Pearson/Edexcel Health and Social Care

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History Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: Edexcel 9-1 History

Link to specification: http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/history-2016.html

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Mathematics Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: Edexcel Mathematics 1MA1

Link to specification: http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/mathematics-2015.html

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Music Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: OCR Music :J356

Link to specification: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-music-j536-from-2016/

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Year 11 Product Design

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: OCR Design & Technology

Link to specification: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-design-and-technology-j310-from-2017/

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GCSE Physical Education Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: OCR GCSE PE J587

Link to specification: Theory: http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/234822-specification-accredited-gcse-physical- education-j587.pdf Practical: http://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/234827-guide-to-non-exam-assessment.pdf

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Core Physical Education Year 11

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Religious Studies Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: OCR Religious Studies J625

Link to specification: http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/gcse-religious-studies-j625-j125-from-2016/

Full course

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GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy

Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: AQA Combined Science Trilogy 8464

Link to specification: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464

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GCSE Combined Science: Trilogy

Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: AQA Combined Science Trilogy 8464

Link to specification: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/combined-science-trilogy-8464

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GCSE Biology Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: AQA Biology: 8461

Link to specification: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/biology -8461

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GCSE Chemistry Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: AQA Chemistry: 8462

Link to specification: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/chemistry 8462

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GCSE Physics Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: e.g. AQA Physics: 8463

Link to specification: e.g. http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/science/gcse/physics-8463

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Spanish Year 11

Grading scheme used: 9-1

Name of GCSE course and code: AQA Spanish: 8698

Link to specification: http://www.aqa.org.uk/subjects/languages/gcse/spanish-8698

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Statistics Year 11

Grading scheme used: A*-G

Name of GCSE course and code: Edexcel Statistics 2ST01

Link to specification: https://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/edexcel-gcses/statistics-2009.html