Exams and Assessment

Key Stage 3 is a crucial time in a student’s school life – it is during these formative years that students experience a broad and balanced knowledge-rich curriculum that provides them with the cultural capital for later success, both in KS4 and KS5, but also in their adult life. We have a 3- year KS3 which ensures students experience a broad and balanced curriculum where creative subjects such as the visual and performing arts, as well as academic subjects are highly valued and protected.

In Year 7, 8 & 9 students are assessed in a variety of different ways, however assessment takes place continuously whether through range of strategies include whole class feedback, verbal feedback, formative assessment marked by class teachers or question-level analysis following the end-of-year exams.

 All Year 7s and in-year admissions in other year groups complete a reading and numeracy test when they start. This allows us to quickly identify any difficulties with reading and maths, especially where it is likely to impact access to the curriculum, and swift intervention is put into place to address any gaps.

KS3 Assessment Points

Year 7, 8 and 9 have two summative assessment points during the year where they are tested using a spiral curriculum approach, assessing the knowledge and skills they have learnt throughout their study of subject at KS3 so far. This enables students to continuous to build on their knowledge and understanding as well as encouraging them to develop revision skills that they will need when they move on to KS4.

We send an academic progress report home to parents 3 times per year, 2 of which detail the level students are achieving in each of their subjects – these are called ‘KS3 grades’ (Developing, Securing and Mastering) and are the grade a teacher believes that student will reach by the end of the academic year. KS3 grades that match the overall target of each subject indicate that they are on track – it’s important to remember a student might have made particularly strong progress in some subjects meaning they are above target and may find another subject more difficult and be just below target.

KS4 Assessment Points

Having made their options choices at the end of KS3, students study these subjects for 2 years before sitting external examinations at the end of Year 11. Year 10 have mock exams at the end of the summer term whilst Year 11 sit two sets of mock exams – the 1st in the Autumn term and the 2^nd in the Spring. Students are given detailed feedback following their assessment in the form of question level analysis and whole class feedback.

The ‘KS4 grades’ on KS4 reports show the grade (9-1 for GCSE and D*-P for vocational courses) that a student is on track to achieve by the end of Year 11. KS4 grades that match the overall target of each subject indicate that they are on track. It is important to remember a student might have made particularly strong progress in some subjects meaning they are above target and may find another subject more difficult and be just below target. Please encourage your child to engage in individual conversations with their subject staff and to act on advice and recommendations in order to maximise progress.

Year 7 AP2

Year 8 AP2

Year 9 AP2

Y11 on their return after Easter will complete their remaining BTEC and practical exams before beginning the 2024 exam series on Tuesday 7^th May. Please see below an overview of the 2024 exam series for our Y11 students.