Years 7 and 8

The assessment system for Years 7 and 8 is based upon knowledge, skills and understanding and a student's ability to demonstrate these.  Rather than asking staff to decide whether a student is a Level 5a or 5b, teachers now record how well students have demonstrated their understanding against a set of core learning objectives in each subject.  These Core Learning Objectives have been developed to reflect the aspirational and high attaining nature of students at Sale Grammar School.

What it will look like for students?

Students will continue to be taught knowledge and skills in line with their ability level and aspirations

The skills being developed during each unit will be made clear at the start of each unit and reviewed throughout via feedback and lesson planning

At an appropriate point, either during or at the end of the unit, student progress against these skills will be assessed via internal subject assessment tasks

What it will look like for parents?

Students will no longer receive a ‘level’ via an academic report

Three times a year students will receive an academic report (two interim reports and one full report) that states whether they are ‘Meeting Expectations’ in relation to the core learning objectives.  This will help prepare them to achieve an aspirational and ambitious grade at GCSE.

Students’ progress and achievement will be determined by how well they are working towards these Core Learning Objectives.

The Core Learning Objectives have been identified as fundamental building blocks on your child's journey towards their new 9-1 GCSE target grade in each particular subject.

Attainment

The attainment column indicates whether your son/daughter is meeting the expectations for that particular subject.  This means that they have demonstrated their competence in meeting the Core Learning Objectives. 

Please note that with the abolition of National Curriculum Levels, these Core Learning Objectives have been developed to reflect the expectations of our own high achieving cohort and that only a very small number of students are likely to exceed these ambitious expectations.   The judgements are:

• Not Yet Meeting Expectations
• Meeting Expectations (the vast majority of students are expected to achieve this judgement)
• Exceeding Expectations

Attitude to Learning, Behaviour and Extension Study

A judgement is also made in the crucial areas of: attitude to learning, behaviour and extension study.  (NB. We refer to extension study rather than homework as we believe this very important aspect of learning should be completed where best suits the individual student).

These judgements are reported as:

O         Outstanding

G          Good

RI         Requires Improvement

As with attainment, the standards at Sale Grammar School are extremely high and we are fortunate in that a good attitude to learning, exemplary behaviour and a commitment to quality extension study is the norm.  Therefore, the judgement of ‘Outstanding’ is reserved for those students whose performance in these areas has been consistently over and above that of their peers.