Assessment and Reporting

Intent

Assessment is a vital part of the learning process and part of our culture of high expectations at Southborough High School. We are clear that it is through living out the expectations of this culture on a daily basis that every student at our school will realise their full potential. We believe that the purpose of assessment is to provide high quality feedback to students that enables them to make rapid and sustained progress.

At the start of each unit of work, all students are shared information, including a learning journey or enquiry question, which outline the skills they need to develop in the unit of work, along with keywords and the assessments they will need to complete. Teachers refer to these curriculum maps throughout the unit of work to support students in being successful, as well as encouraging them to actively engage with, and take responsibility for, their progress over time. At Southborough we believe that the use of a full range of sequenced and well planned assessment opportunities raises achievement and is an integral part of the teaching and learning process. We also believe that assessment should allow students to experience success. We recognise that some students find traditional modes of assessment difficult to navigate and that is why during exam week 2, in particular, we promote the use of multi-modal assessment of students’ knowledge and progress, including through spoken language tests and sound-recording and moving image submissions.

Assessment and Monitoring Guide 2024-25

Our Assessment and Monitoring Guide contains a detailed breakdown of the monitoring and reporting processes for each key stage. This includes the key assessment and reporting dates, information and target setting and how staff assign Commitment to Learning grades. Please take time to carefully read through each section that relates to your child so that you can have an informed discussion with them when you receive their reports.

Framework

Southborough High School reports the assessment of student performance and progress to parents/carers three times a year (twice a year for Y11 and 13, who have public exams). Our teacher assessments will be informed by a combination of classwork, tests and, where relevant, pre-public and internal examinations. In addition we hold Parents' Consultation Meetings for each year group where there is an opportunity for parents/carers to discuss their child's progress with teaching staff.

In Years 7-9

When a child joins Southborough, their information from primary school is used to work out their ‘Starting Point’. The table below is an illustration of how these bands are grouped, but should not be taken as a prediction of what a child will achieve, only as a rough guide. The information we receive on your child joining the school is then triangulated against a CAT test (Cognitive Ability Test) and a reading age test to make sure that assignment of the starting point band is robust. 

Through their Key Stage 3 courses, our students will then be assessed based on this starting point. At these monitoring points, teachers state whether a child is exceeding, meeting, approaching, or significantly below expected progress. 

We have three monitoring points throughout a year and this is when we communicate with you as to how your child is progressing in their subjects. At the end of each of these points, students will receive targeted feedback from their teacher on what is going well and what to focus on for improving. 

Please click here to download a pdf version of the Assessment & Monitoring guide