Assessment at St Cuthbert Mayne School is central to ensuring all of our students make excellent progress.

 

Progress Checks

 

We use Progress Checks at St Cuthbert Mayne to regularly assess and monitor students.

 

Please find below the timetable for reporting to parents.

 

Parent Assessment Calendar 2023-24

 

 

Explanation of Grades used for Progress Reports and Parental Feedback.

 

Working Grade Key Stage 3 (Year 7, 8 & 9)

A grade from a standardised or moderated piece(s) of work or test that gives the best idea of the current working level of each student in their subject given as a whole grade.  This will be using the scale Emerging, Developing, Secure and Greater Depth by considering Age Related Expectation.

Age Related Expectations will indicate the standard required to go on to achieve a passing grade in that subject.  During reporting on option subjects in Year 9, we will also indicate to students that the subject is a suitable choice for GCSE.

 

Key Stage 4 and 5 (Year 10,11, 12 & 13)

Students at St Cuthbert Mayne School are assessed termly against GCSE 9-1/GCE A*-E syllabus criteria, or Vocational D2*-P1 criteria.

The student receives an Achievable Aspirational Target for each subject, which is set by their class teacher.

 

Working grade Key Stage 4 and 5 (Year 10,11, 12 & 13)

A grade from a standardised or moderated piece(s) of work or test that gives the best idea of the current working level of each student in their subject, split into a whole grade, + or -.  This will be using the 9-1/GCE A*-E or BTEC grade syllabus criteria as set by each subject.

 

Forecast grade Key Stage 4 and 5 (Year 10,11, 12 & 13)

At Key Stage 4 (Year 10 & 11), this is the grade that the teacher thinks the student will achieve at the end of year 11. It will be based on the teacher’s professional judgement and the current performance of the student.  This will take into account their current working grade, their effort grade and the ‘normal’ progression of students in the subject area.  The forecast will also be given as a ‘fine grade’.  This means putting the whole grade and + or – next to 9-1 grades indicating the security of that grade.  This does not apply to U grades.  An example of this for grade 6 is shown below.

6+ = Secure grade 6 and with teacher intervention could be a 7;

6    = Likely to achieve grade 6 but will need teacher intervention to secure this grade;

6-  = Insecure grade 6 and teacher intervention is essential to secure this grade, to avoid falling down to a grade 5.

 

For BTEC Subjects:

For those subjects that deliver the new generation BTEC qualifications, which can be awarded at level 1 or level 2 for a learner, then the following fine grading rules applies:

BTEC (PE & Business), OCR Nationals ICT: D*2 = Distinction* D2 = Distinction Level 2, M2 = Merit Level 2, P2 = Pass Level 2, D1 = Distinction Level 1, M1 = Merit Level 1,

P1 = Pass Level 1, U = Fail.

 

At Key Stage 5 (Year 12 & 13), this is the grade that the teacher thinks the student will achieve at the end of their A2 or Btec/Cambridge Technical Level 3 studies. It will be based on their professional judgement and the current performance of the student.  This will be given as a ‘fine grade’.  This means putting a whole grade and + or – next to A*-E grade given indicating the security of that grade.  This does not apply to a U grade.

For BTEC & Cambridge Technical courses we are using grades, D*= Distinction, D= Distinction, M=Merit, P=Pass.

 

Effort Grades (All year groups)

This is an indicator of behaviour and effort in the subject and is recorded as follows:

  • I – Independent attitude to learning supports high attainment and/or exceptional progress;
  • E – Engaged attitude to learning supports expected progress;
  • P – Passive attitude to learning supports some satisfactory progress.  Increased motivation in lessons will improve progress made;
  • R – Reluctant attitude to learning is having a negative effect on progress and needs to improve immediately.