This document outlines how students are assessed and graded in KS4 (Years 10 - 11), how target grades are set and how progress is monitored and reported.

GCSE Grades

You will be aware that GCSE grades are now awarded as a number: 1 to 9. Many parents are very familiar with this new system. However for those parents who are not, please see the table below for how the number grades compare with the old grading system.

Targets

At St Dunstan’s School targets are designed to be ambitious, but achievable. We review all targets at the end of KS3 (year 9) to ensure that these targets are still suitable for the students. If the targets are still ambitious, we roll forward the targets as GCSE grades using the table below.

If a student is new in year 10, we will base their target on a number of factors including: their KS2 SATs data; recommendations from previous schools; and their current attainment in lessons.

It is important to note that a target is not fixed. Students who are making a consistently higher rate of progress (for 2 consecutive reports) will be moved up a target grade. A letter will be sent home to congratulate the student and indicate that they have moved to a higher target.

Assessments and marking

During Key Stage 4, subjects that have four or more lessons per fortnight will carry out six summative assessments per year. Subjects with three or fewer lessons per fortnight will carry out at least three summative assessments per year. There will be no summative assessments in PSHE or games lessons. Prior to these assessments, subjects will provide students with one of the following items: a personalised learning checklist, a knowledge organiser, or detailed success criteria, to ensure students have the chance to prepare thoroughly for each assessment.

Once the assessments have been completed, teachers will mark them in red pen and provide students with feedback which will include the following:

• The student’s target grade
• The grade the student achieved - we call this a Most Recent Assessment Grade (MRA)
• A “What Went Well” (WWW) comment - Praise for the strengths shown
• An “Even Better If” (EBI) comment - How the pupil can improve their work

Following this, pupils will be given an opportunity to go back and improve, correct or further develop their work. This will be completed with a purple pen.

Tracking progress

Once completed, pupils will record the grade they achieved on their target-tracking sticker, which is to be found on the front of their exercise book. This enables pupils and parents to see how they are progressing over time.

Mock Examinations

Mock examinations are vital in helping students to prepare for their final GCSE examinations. They also provide teachers with really good information about what students can and can't do. We run mock examinations in year 10 at the end of June. We also run them in November for year 11, along with another set of mocks for core subjects in March of year 11.

Tiers of Entry

Some subjects have ‘tiers of entry’, here students will sit either the Foundation tier, or the Higher tier. This means that students will take different examination papers. The content on the Foundation tier is much easier than the Higher tier, however the maximum grade you can get on the Foundation Tier is a grade 5. The subjects that have tiers of entry are: Maths; Science; and French. Subject leaders will use the mock examination data to decide which tier of entry is best for our students. If we decide to change the tier of entry for a student, we will write home to inform parents of this change.

Reporting Home

There are three reports per year. One Progress Report, one Parents’ Evening event and one Full School Report.

Progress Reports include the following information:

• Target Grade.

         This is a GCSE grade. It is an achievable but aspirational target designed to motivate students to achieve their best. It is not expected that this grade will always be reached, but if it is consistently met or exceeded, it may be increased.

• Most Recent Assessment Grade.

          This is the GCSE grade awarded based upon the most recent set of assessments in each subject.

• A Predicted Grade

         In year 10 we call this prediction a ‘Working Towards Grade’ (WTG), in year 11 we call this prediction a ‘likely to achieve grade’ (LTA). The change in vocabulary from ‘a working towards grade’ to ‘a likely to achieve grade’, reflects the fact that predicted grades made in year 11 tend to be more accurate than predictions made in earlier years.

•  A Behaviour Score.

          This is a score from 1-4 describing how well students behave themselves in lessons.

          1 is 'Outstanding'; 2 is 'Good'; 3 is 'Requires Improvement' and 4 is 'Poor'.

• A Effort Score.

         This is a score from 1-4 describing how well students apply themselves in lessons.

         1 is 'Outstanding'; 2 is 'Good'; 3 is 'Requires Improvement' and 4 is 'Poor'.

• A Homework Score.

         This is a score from 1-4 describing the quality of students’ homework.

         1 is 'Outstanding'; 2 is 'Good';. 3 is 'Requires Improvement' and 4 is 'Poor'.

• A Equipment Score.

         This is a score from 1-4 describing how often students bring in a full set of equipment.

         1 is 'Always'; 2 is 'Usually'; 3 is 'Sometimes forgets items of equipment'; and 4 is 'Frequently without the correct equipment'.

 The Full School Reports include all of the above plus a tutor comment

The tutor comment will discuss the pupils’ wider involvement and participation in extra curricular clubs, as well as further comments on such points as their organisation, punctuality and character development.

 Cambridge Nationals

We run the Cambridge National qualification for several subjects at St Dunstan’s. These subjects include: Sport; and iMedia. The Cambridge National is a level 1/2 qualification, so it is the equivalent level as the GCSE. It is important to note that students who take the Cambridge National qualification will receive a different format of grading to those students taking GCSEs. Students will be given a level 1 or 2 and then awarded a: Pass; Merit; or Distinction. Use the table below for an approximate guide on how these levels equate to GCSE grades.

 Eduqas/WJEC

We run the WJEC Level 1/2 vocation award in Performing Arts. The WJEC is a level 1/2 qualification, so it is the equivalent level as the GCSE. It is important to note that students who take the WJEC will receive a different format of grading to those students taking GCSEs. Students will be given a level 1 or 2. Students achieving a grade one will receive a grade 1 pass, students achieving a level 2 will be awarded a: Pass; Merit; Distinction; or a Distinction*. Use the table below for an approximate guide on how these levels equate to GCSE grades.

 NCFE

We run the NCFE Level 1/2 technical award in Business and Enterprise (Business Studies).  The NCFE is a level 1/2 qualification, so it is the equivalent level as the GCSE. It is important to note that students who take the NCFE qualification will receive a different format of grading to those students taking GCSEs. Students will be given a level 1 or 2 and then awarded a: Pass; Merit; Distinction; or a Distinction*. Use the table below for an approximate guide on how these levels equate to GCSE grades.