Assessment

Assessment

At St Alban’s, assessment is a vital part of our approach to teaching and learning. It helps us understand what children know, what they need to learn next, and how we can best support their progress. Our assessment practices ensure that every child receives the right level of challenge and support, allowing them to flourish academically and personally.

We use a combination of statutory assessments (required by the government), other summative assessment and ongoing teacher assessments (otherwise known as formative assessment) to track progress throughout a child’s journey in primary school. These assessments provide valuable insights into children’s learning and help us work in partnership with parents to celebrate achievements and address any areas for development.

Statutory Assessment

Statutory assessment at the primary level in England, which all school are directed to administer by the government, includes:

1. Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA): Conducted within the first six weeks of starting Reception, this is a short, practical assessment focusing on early literacy, communication, and mathematics to establish a starting point for measuring progress to Year 6.

2. Phonics Screening Check: Administered in Year 1, this assesses children’s ability to decode words using phonics. It identifies those needing additional support. A retake is available in Year 2 for those who do not meet the expected standard.

3. Optional KS1 SATs: Schools can use these assessments in Year 2 to evaluate progress in reading, writing, mathematics, and grammar, though the results are used alongside teacher assessments.

4. Multiplication Tables Check (MTC): Taken in Year 4, this is an online assessment of times table knowledge, focusing on fluency in multiplication facts up to 12×12.

5. KS2 SATs: Administered in Year 6, these standardized tests assess attainment in reading, mathematics, grammar, punctuation, and spelling, alongside teacher-assessed writing and science.

Summative Assessment

In addition to statutory assessments, we use other summative assessments to track progress and inform our teaching. At St Alban’s, we use NfER tests in Years 1, 3, 4, and 5 to assess reading and mathematics. These standardized tests provide valuable data on pupils’ strengths and areas for development, helping us tailor support and challenge to ensure every child reaches their full potential. Combined with teacher assessments, these tests give a well-rounded picture of each child’s learning journey.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is an essential part of a teacher’s ongoing assessment of a child’s attainment, helping to identify strengths and next steps in learning. It happens daily through strategies such as questioning, discussions, observations, marking and feedback, and low-stakes quizzes. These assessments allow teachers to adapt lessons to meet the needs of all learners. At St Alban’s, we report on formative assessment and track children’s progress using the Trust’s 1-4 Assessment Framework scale, ensuring a clear and consistent understanding of how each child is developing across the curriculum. Parents receive these Assessment Framework ‘scores’ for their child 3 times per year, ensuring they know how their child is progressing through the curriculum.