Assessing Progress in Year 7 and Year 8 - Age Related Expectations

For our Year 7 and Year 8 students, progress is measured against Age Related Expectations (AREs). There are three ARE pathways that give an indication of what GCSE grades a student will achieve at the end of Year 11. These pathways are 1-3; 4-6 and 7-9.

When joining us in Year 7, students are given their pathway. This is calculated using a range of data including the CAT (Cognitive Abilities Test) score that students take at the start of Year 7. Students are not limited by this pathway, it is an indicator of expected progress.

Four times during the year teachers report on student progress in an interim report. Progress is judged against the criteria in ARE grids in each subject using the following:

Exceptional Progress  working well above their target range / ARE pathway
Excellent Progress  working above their target range / ARE pathway
Expected Progress  working within their target range / ARE pathway
Limited Progress working below their target range / ARE pathway
Inadequate Progress working well below their target range / ARE pathway

The criteria from the ARE grids will be used to assess student progress when marking work throughout years 7 and 8. 

There are 9 ARE grids that cover the following subject areas:

1. Arts

2. Computer Science

3. English

4. Humanities

5. Mathematics

6. Modern Foreign Languages (MFL)

7. Physical Education

8. Science

9. Technology

Within the documents you will find a grid for each pathway 1-3; 4-6 and 7-9 first for Year 7 and then for Year 8. The criteria for each year is split into 4 sections that represent the 3 interim reporting cycles.