Testing and Report Policy
1. Statement
2. Aims
3. Related policies
4. Working grades and target grades
5. Assessments for grading
6. Conditions for assessments and digital devices
7. Feedback and reports
8. Entry into Year 12 and 13
9. Working together
1. Statement
Ashbourne teachers continually monitor and (re)assess students’ progress and potential attainment levels. This enables them to provide students (and parents) with constructive feedback and the relevant academic and pastoral support they need to prepare for the official examinations in order to achieve the best grades possible.
2. Aims
This policy sets out the purpose of assessment, what type of assessments are carried out, certain requirements from students, how feedback is provided and entry into years 12 and 13.
4. Working grades and target grades
Teachers use assessments (and other indicators) to record working grades (how students are currently performing) and set target grades (what students should be aiming for) to help students track and improve their performance. These help the teacher formulate the final predicted grades that get submitted to universities via UCAS. More information can be found in the Working Grades and Target Grades Policy.
5. Assessments for grading
Students are given working grades at the end of each half term. These are typically derived from performance in mock examinations (also half-termly) but can also be arrived at through a combination of assessments:
When determining the working grades, teachers take into consideration how well students are able to meet exam board assessment objectives and criteria for each subject and/or past paper, as well as performance under timed conditions and/or deadlines.
6. Conditions for assessments and digital devices
Teachers will decide whether access to additional resources, materials and the internet is appropriate for specific mock assessments. Therefore, students are not permitted to use mobile phones or laptops during any mock examinations unless explicitly advised to do so, or if they have agreed access arrangements. This means that all devices must be handed in to the supervising teacher.
Mock examinations in the final term (HT4) take place in the formal examination venue used for the official summer examination series. Mobile phones and smart glasses or wearables are strictly prohibited.
Failure or refusal to hand in devices for internal assessments when requested will be treated as disciplinary issues under the Student Behaviour and Exclusions Policy; failure to do so in official examinations will be treated as malpractice and may lead to disqualification by the examination board. Read the Malpractice and Maladministration Policy (exams) for further details.
7. Feedback and reports
Teachers provide students and parents with formal feedback and progress reports at the end of each half term (October, December, February and March), which are sent via email and are available on the portals, and at parents’ evenings.
Teachers’ reports and feedback during parents’ evening aim to:
8. Entry into Year 12 and 13
There are minimum grade requirements for students to be able to move up to years 12 and 13 at the College. These are:
9. Working together
Parents, and students, are always welcome to get in contact or discuss concerns about academic progress at any point, either with teachers directly and/or the Director of Studies.