Aureus School KS3 Assessment 2023-24 

What is the aim of assessment in KS3?

At Aureus School our aim is that our students learn their curriculum well so that they know more and can do more.  This knowledge and capability will prepare students well for success in Key Stage 4 and beyond.  It is also important that any gaps are identified in Key Stage 3 so that these can be effectively addressed. 

To do this we use both:

• Formative assessment– as an ongoing element of our teaching to check for student understanding
• Summative assessment– to assess how well students are learning and remembering the curriculum

What do we assess in Key Stage 3?
In Key Stage 3 we assess students’ knowledge in two ways.  The depth of their:

• Declarative knowledge – how well a student knows the core facts and ideas he or she has been taught in each subject
• Procedural knowledge – how well a student is able to apply these facts and ideas. This may be through practical skills, solving problems or composing an argument

The blend of these two aspects of knowledge allows a student to know both ‘what’ and ‘how to’.

What does formative assessment look like?
Checking for student understanding might take the form of:

• Recall checks 
• Questioning in lessons
• Quizzes and tests in lessons or set as homework
• Live marking of students’ work
• Other forms of retrieval practice for students
• ‘Book looks’ 
• Exit slips 
• Practice examination style questions or essays in class or set as homework

Teachers will use this formative assessment to help them plan lessons and provide feedback to students about what they need to do next. Such feedback will concentrate on students’ learning gaps and how to close these.

What does summative assessment look like?
 Assessing how well students are learning and remembering the curriculum might take the form of:

• A test, exam or assessment
• An exam style question taken in timed or ‘closed’ conditions
• An extended piece of work

When do we report on student progress in KS3?
In Key Stage 3 we report student performance twice a year:

• Mid year: How effectively students are learning the curriculum at this point (informed by ongoing formative and summative classroom assessment.)
• End of year: How well students remember what they have learned this year and in their previous learning

 

How do we report on student progress in KS3? 

We recognise that all students have different starting points and make progress at different rates across the curriculum, so we have adopted a 4-stage model for assessing student progress which recognises the different rates of progress students make called ‘Pathway to Mastery’. We would expect all students to have reached ‘secure’ in their learning by the end of the year. Many students will have ‘mastered’ their learning. If there are students who are still ‘emerging’ or ‘developing’ on their pathway their teachers will be planning on how to support them in their next year of learning.

 

What does progress look like in Key Stage 3?

     

 

Key Stage 4 Assessment Information for Parents 2023-2024

What is the aim of assessment in KS4?

At Aureus School our aim is that our students learn their curriculum well so that they know more and can
do more. During Key Stage Four that means students achieving success in their chosen subjects and having
the qualification they need to progress to the next stage of their learning journey. We therefore assess
progress using examination based criteria, but we also continue to use both formative and summative
assessments.

Formative assessment is ongoing assessments during lessons where we can quickly establish what students
know and can do, and adapt teaching to help them develop further. Summative assessments take place
regularly throughout KS4 and assess how well students are learning and remembering the curriculum

What do we assess in Key Stage 4?
In Key Stage 4 we assess students’ knowledge in two ways. The depth of their:

● Declarative knowledge – how well a student knows the core facts and ideas he or she has been
taught in each subject
● Procedural knowledge – how well a student is able to apply these facts and ideas. This means
applying their knowledge in a specific way to meet the demands of the course they are studying.

The blend of these two aspects of knowledge allows a student to know both ‘what’ and ‘how to’.

What does formative assessment look like?
Checking for student understanding might take the form of:
● Recall checks
● Questioning in lessons
● Quizzes and tests in lessons or set as homework
● Live marking of students’ work
● Other forms of retrieval practice for students
● ‘Book looks’
● Exit slips
● Practice examination style questions or essays in class or set as homework

Teachers will use this formative assessment to help them plan lessons and provide feedback to students
about what they need to do next. Such feedback will concentrate on students’ learning gaps and how to
close these.

What does summative assessment look like?
Assessing how well students are learning and remembering the curriculum might take the form of:

● A test, exam or assessment
● An exam style question taken in timed or ‘closed’ conditions
● An extended piece of work

When do we report on student progress in KS4?
In Key Stage 4 we report student performance twice a year.

● Mid year: How effectively students are learning the curriculum at this point (informed by ongoing
formative and summative classroom assessment.)
● End of year: How well students remember what they have learned this year and in their previous learning.

How do we report on student progress in KS4?

We will send a report home twice a year. The report will include information on current grade, predicted and target grades as well as a summary of attitude to learning and to home learning.

A summary of what is included in on a KS4 report:

Guide to Grades

The highest grade a student can receive is a Grade 9. A Grade 5 is considered a ‘Strong Pass’ and a Grade 4 is considered a ‘Standard Pass’.

Some subjects use an alternative grading system based on Pass, Merit, Distinction and Distinction*, which are equivalent to the following:

How do we share this information with parents/carers?

Parents and carers will receive two written reports per year and have an opportunity to discuss their child’s learning at a Parent Information Evening.

We have one Parent Information Evening in Year 10 and two in Year 11, one early in the Autumn term and a second evening in the Spring.

These are crucial events for supporting your child’s progress through KS4.