Reporting Schedule - 2011-2012

Attitude to Learning Scores

At The Elmgreen School we use 4 letter codes to comment on a student’s efforts to achieve in their work.  Explanations of these attitudes are given below.

Our minimum expectation for Attitude to Learning is that all students should demonstrate a High Effort to Achieve.  Therefore Satisfactory Effort to Achieve and Insufficient Effort to Achieve Level are considered as an underachievement.

M        Maximum effort to achieve

Characterised by:

·         Constant willingness to learn and progress

·         Maximum care and attention to all work produced

·         Completion of all work and homework set to highest standards

·         Willingness to take full advantage of all learning opportunities offered

·         Willingness to work with other people to extend their own and other’s learning

H         High effort to achieve

Characterised by:

·         Willingness to learn and progress

·         A high level of care and attention to all work produced

·         Completion of all work and homework set

·         Willing to be involved in all learning opportunities offered

·         Willingness to work with other people to develop their own and other’s learning

S          Satisfactory effort to achieve

Characterised by:

·         Involved in learning and progression

·         Completion of all work and homework set

·         Usually involved in all learning opportunities offered

·         Can work with other people in a productive way

X          Insufficient effort to achieve

Characterised by:

·         Reluctance to be involved in learning and progress opportunities

·         Low level of care and attention to work produced

·         Incomplete work and homework

·         Inability or reluctance to work with other people in productive ways

Frequently Asked Questions - Key Stage 4

What does the ‘Target Minimum Grade (TMG)’ mean?

The Target Minimum Grade is the grade which your child should be aiming to achieve at the end of the course. We work this out using your child’s attainment at the end of Key Stage 2 (Year 6), predictors from the CATS tests which your child sat in Year 7 and teacher assessment at the end of Year 9. This is not a prediction of the grade your child will achieve but is an ambitious target for them to work towards and, we hope, exceed. It should also be helpful for you in judging your child’s progress over the course of the year.

What does the ‘current grade’ mean?

The current grade reflects your child’s performance so far in each subject, and is based on actual results in controlled assessment, class tests and/or teacher’s judgement of overall performance in class and homework. 

What does the ‘projected grade’ mean?

The projected grade is the grade your child is on course to achieve at the end of the qualification if they continue working as now and assuming the same rate of progress. The projected grade is not a predicted grade but will aid your understanding of how well your child is currently working.

What do the grade divisions (C1 C2 C3 D1 etc) mean?

In common with some other schools, we break down the GCSE grades further as it enables us to track your child’s progress more accurately and put appropriate support in place. For example, if your child is working at C3 they are not as secure in grade C as another working at C1 or 2, so we can put intervention in place to ensure that your child secures a strong pass grade.

How does the school use this information?

We use the grades to set targets and set a benchmark for how they are progressing. The grades your child achieves in qualifications will determine their choices later for sixth form, college, university and work. It is therefore vital that we share the tracking with you as often as possible so that you can support your child, too.

Should my child be working at the same grade in all their subjects?

No. Achievement is likely to be varied. You should judge your child’s progress against the target minimum grade in the subject.

What does the ‘homework concern’ column mean?

A teacher will have entered ‘Yes’ in this column if they are concerned that your child is not completing homework to a good standard or not handing homework in.  Please check your child’s planner.

How can the subject comments help me understand my child’s progress?

On a number of reports per year teachers will have written a short comment to inform you what skills they have demonstrated well and what the next step in their learning should be.

What if I have a question about the report / scores?

Please discuss any issues arising from this Progress Report with your child’s Tutor.  They will be able to answer your question or consult with subject staff on your behalf.

Frequently Asked Questions - Key Stage 3

What do the National Curriculum Levels mean?

Each child is given a National Curriculum Level for their attainment in every subject.

These levels are divided into 3.  For example a child can achieve a Level 4a, 4b or 4c.

4a being the highest.  The next level after 4a is 5c and so on.

How does the School use information about levels?

We use levels as a guide to show us your child’s general level of attainment when they arrive at The Elmgreen School and as a benchmark for how they are progressing.  They are one indicator that helps us decide on which groups they may be taught in for some subjects.

Should my child be working at the same level in all of their subjects?

No.  Achievement across their subjects is likely to be varied.  In some subjects, such as PE and Technology, levels may be varied across the year as students learn completely different skills. 

What does the Minimum Expected National Curriculum Level mean?

All students are given a ‘baseline’ score from their average attainment at Key Stage 2 (Year 6).  This is just one way the school can judge how far each child is progressing, but it is only a benchmark because a child’s performance in one subject might be very different to their performance in another.

The Minimum Expected National Curriculum Level helps you see how far your child should be progressing on average.  Every student should make 2 sub levels of progress in each a`cademic year.  For example, if a child achieved level 4a in their English KS2 SATS they should achieve 5b in English at the end of Year 7, 6c at the end of Year 8 and 6a at the end of Year 9.  Of course this is only an indicator as some children progress at different speeds over their time at school.

What does the ‘homework/ILP concern’ column mean?

A teacher will have entered ‘Yes’ in this column if they are concerned that your child is not completing homework or ILP work to a good standard or not handing it in.  Please check your child’s planner.

How can the subject comments help me understand my child’s progress?

On one report per year teachers will have written a short comment to inform you what skills they have demonstrated well and what the next step in their learning should be.

What if I have a question about the report / scores?

Please discuss any issues arising from this Progress Report with your child’s Tutor.  They will be able to answer your question or consult with subject staff on your behalf.