INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
World Book Day
Animal Show
Fire Station Visit
The British School of Alicante Monthly Update
Newsletter PRIMARY Message from the Head of Primary With one final term to go, as we approach the end of another academic year talk of attainment and levels are once again uppermost in our minds. Our Year 6 pupils are currently being prepared to take the KS2 SATs. (Statutory Assessment Tests). The children will be assessed towards the end of May in English and Mathematics. (No science tests this year). Pupils are naturally anxious about these tests and parents often ask how they can help and support their children at home. However, the way in which the school now assesses our pupils means that both pupils and parents are given as much information as possible on attainment and progress not only in the months leading up to the SATs but in all the years of the Primary phase. Children are not only assessed each term by their teacher and given a level of attainment which informs our reports, but teachers also assess children’s work informally almost every time they teach a class. Knowing how children are doing in class helps teachers to plan what the children should learn next. This is called teacher assessment which is supported by tasks. This method of regular assessment helps to strengthen the link between teaching and learning. It also helps to identify children who need help because they are under-achieving or move or re-group children who have made accelerated progress. These assessments ensure that National Curriculum attainment levels are being covered and now that
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teachers are basing their planning on the Primary Framework, coverage of the National Curriculum is ensured, as well as helping to tailor planning to children’s achievements. Both tests and teacher assessment measure your child’s achievement in different ways. The tests measure what all children can do when they are set the same questions and help teachers identify strengths and weaknesses in children’s understanding. Teacher assessment judges your child’s performance across the whole subject over time. Tests and teacher assessment both play a part, however the test seldom surprises the class teacher as the information collected over time that they already have at hand on the individual pupil is detailed and informed. So as our Year 6 pupils get ready to take their last formal assessment in Primary we can be confident and reassured that not only their final year but all the previous years and teachers in Primary have played a large part in their overall attainment. I hope also that this has given you, as parents a clearer understanding of how we assess and measure attainment.
Fiona Thomas Head of Primary