Assessment is an integral part of teaching and learning and is a
continuous process. It is central to helping children make progress as it
allows teachers to identify pupils’ strengths and identify next steps for
learning and plan how to meet their learning needs.

At St. Mary’s, we use formative assessment every day to identify what the
children have learned. Formative assessment is carried out informally by
teachers in the course of their daily teaching through live marking at the
point of teaching, talking to pupils and on-going observations. Children
also undertake many self-assessment activities and use peer assessment
to provide feedback to one another.

Summative assessment is an evaluation of students’ current
understanding and achievement. It allows teachers to track learners’
progress over a period of time. It is done at the end of a teaching unit or
several teaching units and can be benchmarked or standardised against
other students’ work.

At St. Mary’s, children in Y1-6 are assessed in Reading, Writing and Maths
at the following times:
● Baseline – September
● Autumn – November/December
● Spring – March
● Summer – June

Following summative assessments, children are given one of the following
teacher assessment grades:
● Below National Curriculum (BNC): For students who are not yet
accessing the National Curriculum and require highly individualised plans,
typically linked to an EHCP.
● Below (BLW): For students who are working within the National
Curriculum but are significantly below year-group expectations (typically
more than two years below).
● Working Towards (WTS): Specifically defined as children working within
the previous two years of year-group expectations.
● Expected Standard (EXS): The standard descriptor for pupils working
securely within the expected range for their year group.

● Greater Depth Standard (GDS): For pupils who are consistently
exceeding year-group expectations and demonstrating a deeper mastery
of the curriculum.

Reporting to Parents

● Parents’ evenings/afternoons during the autumn and spring terms.
● Mid-year progress reports in February.
● End of year reports, which inform parents of statutory end of key
stage assessment results and targets for the following year.

Please view our Assessment Policy on Our Policies page here.