Assessment

At JCSRS, we believe that assessment is an integral part of the learning and teaching process and it is here to celebrate, share learners’ successes and reinforce future planning for the holistic development of children. Effective assessment provides valuable information to understand what constitutes learning and how to support it.

To achieve excellence in assessment, we subscribe to the following Guiding Principles of Assessment:

  1. Assessment should be objective and based on a clear criteria relating to what our students know and understand.

  2. Regular analysis and reporting of student performance influences next steps in learning.

  3. All teaching staff should use a range of assessment tools and strategies to create a holistic picture of student progress and achievement over time.

  4. Feedback is an essential element to enhancing a student’s understanding of their own learning.

  5. Moderation is an essential tool to strengthen teacher judgment and track continuous growth whilst representing what success looks like.

  6. Assessment will include student and parent voice in planning meaningful outcomes and aspirations.

  7. Assessment outcomes provide reliable feedback about a students progress in learning.

The purpose of assessment is to inform learning and teaching. It identifies what students know, understand and can do at different stages in the learning process. We believe that assessment is meaningful to all members of the learning community.

Our teachers use a range of strategies to monitor, document and measure students’ progress, reinforcing future planning and ensuring a rigorous approach to curriculum delivery. Our strategies include:

  • Long and short term goals: Annual Reviews process and setting of Individual Education Plans (IEPs) across five Dimensions of Learning

  • Progress tracking across seven global Competencies

  • Formative and summative assessment of curriculum and educational objectives; including curriculum planning, JCSRS Levels assessment, Mid-year and End of the Year reports

  • Achievement of qualification – Micro and Mini Duke Awards, Lifeskills Challenge Awards and ASDAN

Feedback has been shown to be one of the most powerful tools to improve learning and it is used daily to monitor and support our learners’ work. Information gathered ensures that learners know what they are doing well but also to plan their next steps to ensure continuous progress. Both teacher and student are continuously asking themselves questions:

  1. Where am I going?

  2. How am I doing?

  3. Where to next?

At JCSRS we are focusing on providing consistent feedback on the students’ learning and have introduced a feedback framework. This tool is designed to provide consistency in giving written and verbal feedback on students achievement, engagement and level of support to access learning.