Student Assessment
Assessment and Reporting at St Joseph's Oatley
Reporting at St Joseph’s, Oatley
Accurate and comprehensive reporting of school and student performance assists in establishing open communication, improving student learning, assists in establishing future direction, and helps to identify areas of exemplary student performance, as well as areas in need of support and assistance. Reporting is a process designed to provide information to various stakeholders about student learning. The reporting process at St Joseph’s, Oatley involves a range of strategies these include:
- Assessment comments on student work.
- Teacher feedback to students about student’s learning
- Interviews and meetings between parents/care-givers, teachers and when appropriate, students.
- Formal written reports
The written student report to parents is a specific and formal part of the process of communicating learning to parents/care-givers. The written report provides a summative interpretation of student progress and achievement against Foundation Statements contained in Board of Studies documents.
According to Federal Government requirements all students in Years 1 to 6 will be graded A-E on overall achievement in each Key Learning Area. Written information will be provided on students’ achievements and areas for development in the areas of Mathematics, English and Religious Education.
The following descriptors for the A to E Common Grade Scale have been provided by the Board of Studies:
A The student has an extensive knowledge and understanding of the content and can readily apply this knowledge. In addition, the student has achieved a very high level of competence in the processes and skills and can apply these skills to new situations.
B The student has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the content and a high level of competence in the processes and skills. In addition, the student is able to apply this knowledge and these skills to most situations.
C The student has a sound knowledge and understanding of the main areas of content and has achieved an adequate level of competence in the processes and skills.
D The student has a basic knowledge and understanding of the content and has achieved a limited level of competence in the processes and skills.
E The student has an elementary knowledge and understanding in few areas of the content and has achieved very limited competence in some of the processes and skills.
Kindergarten will not receive an A – E Grading on their report. Parents/care-givers of students with special needs may request not to receive an A – E Grading on their report as may any parent/ care-giver opposed to this form of reporting.
Implementation:
- Schools are responsible for reporting on student achievement to the students themselves, to parents, the Catholic Education Office, other teachers and schools.
- Each year our school will provide parents with two written reports (one in June and one in December) on student achievement covering all Key Learning Areas.
- Parents will be provided with input to assist in the development, interpretation and understanding of all aspects of the school’s reporting process.
- We will provide a formal face-to-face parent/teacher/student interview after the June and December reports are distributed. Parents may also make appointments to meet the teacher at other times throughout the year.
- The school will develop and report against Individual Adjustment Plans for all students with significant disabilities on the CEO Database.
- We will participate in all national testing programs, provide necessary performance data and maintain appropriate student records.
- The school will analyse and interpret its NAPLAN achievement in comparison to aggregated national and state-wide performance data, and develop strategic responses in an effort to maximise student achievement.
- The school uses the mandatory student reporting software “Reporter Pro”, as directed by Catholic Education Office, Sydney.
- The school uses the Common Grade Scale for students in Years 1 to years 6 as directed by the Federal Government.
Evaluation:
- This policy was reviewed on a regular basis as a part of the school’s Strategic Plan
Yours sincerely
Catherine Coman
Assessment Policy
Reviewed 2011
Rationale:
- Accurate and comprehensive assessment of school and student performance aids in establishing open communication, guides student learning, assists in establishing future direction, and helps to identify areas of exemplary performance, as well as those in need of support and assistance.
Aims:
- To assess school and student performance accurately and comprehensively.
- To improve student learning by accurately determining areas of future need, as well as areas of current exemplary performance.
Principles of Quality Assessment at St Joseph’s
Assessment:
- will be used to identify future lessons and directions, rather than simply a prelude to reporting achievement..
- is focussed on the student and inclusive of all students
- is a process integral to learning and teaching
- assists teachers in improving the learning opportunities for all students
- provides opportunities for students to demonstrate what they know, understand and are able to do
- provides data and information about attainment and development that is analysed and used to drive further learning
- informs, monitors and progresses learning.
Implementation:
- Teachers are responsible for accurately assessing student achievement, as well as whole school performance in a variety of areas.
- Teachers will include a variety of assessment strategies in teaching programs to provide multiple sources of information about student achievement. These may include tests and assignments, projects, performance observations, discussions and involvement in national standardised testing processes nominated in the school assessment grid.
- Teachers will develop a manageable system of keeping records that can provide a rich mixture of observations of student learning.
- Teachers will use the data they collect to inform learning opportunities and build further learning.
- The school will provide all required performance data to the community by means of the School Annual Report.
Evaluation:
- This policy will be reviewed annually as part of the School’s Strategic Plan.
Yours sincerely
