Parent Forums

PARENT
FORUMS

KS3 ASSESSMENT

Summary of Parent Forum Discussion

The parent forum focused on updates to assessment and reporting practices at the school, aiming to enhance transparency and communication. Key points included:

1. Assessment Reforms:

The school is transitioning to a new, data-driven assessment model to replace subjective grading systems.
Scaled scores from Key Stage 2 will now be utilized for benchmarking, with this data used to give more specific baselines for different KS3 subjects
Reporting will include 9 "bandings" to objectively reflect a student’s performance across various subjects and identify areas for improvement.

2. Reporting and Feedback:

New interim reports, due on December 11, will provide detailed insights into students’ relative strengths and weaknesses by subject.
Students' performance will be compared with their baseline.
Teachers will use knowledge organizers and topic-specific feedback to guide both students and parents in addressing learning gaps.

3. Parent Engagement:

Parents were invited to participate in a follow-up forum and provide feedback about the format of reports and reading assessment reporting.

The session concluded with gratitude expressed for parents’ participation and an emphasis on continuing collaboration to refine educational practices. FAQs and further updates are expected after the next parent forum.

Slideshow (Click to download)

FAQs

GROUPING WEBCAST

Background and Context:
- The shift to mixed attainment teaching in mathematics began when a cohort of Year 6 students entered secondary school without prior data (due to canceled SATs). This required teachers to adapt to a new approach, emphasizing collaboration and careful planning. IThe model proved successful in fostering engagement and reducing negative labeling associated with ability-based grouping.
Benefits of Mixed Attainment:
- The approach created a more inclusive learning environment, encouraging collaboration and discussion among students of varying skill levels. Middle and lower attainers became more confident, while high achievers benefitted from explaining concepts to peers. Behavior and engagement improved, and students developed a growth mindset.
Teaching for Mastery:
- The teaching philosophy, inspired by Singapore and Shanghai maths practices, emphasizes five principles: representation and structure, mathematical thinking, variation, fluency, and coherence. The goal is to instill a belief that every student can succeed in maths.
Lesson Design:
- Lessons frequently focus on connecting concrete representations (e.g., manipulatives) to abstract concepts, ensuring students understand "why" a concept works rather than simply memorizing procedures. Activities prioritize quality over quantity, encouraging students to explore patterns, generalize rules, and build deep understanding.
Student Grouping and Progression:
- Year 7 and 8 classes remain broadly mixed, with adjustments made for intervention groups. By Year 9, some students naturally transition into intermediate groups, where pacing is adjusted to solidify foundational concepts. Tier decisions for GCSEs (higher or foundation) are made later in Year 11 based on mock exam results.
Evidence of Success:
- Mixed attainment teaching has reduced negative attitudes toward math, improved engagement, and shown promising results in assessments. Data from interim assessments indicate that students in the mixed model are performing at least as well as or better than previous cohorts, particularly in mid-range grades.
Stretch and Challenge:
- High-achieving students are challenged to explore multiple methods, articulate reasoning, and understand concepts deeply. This prepares them for the demands of advanced study and the evolving requirements of the GCSE, which prioritize problem-solving and critical thinking over procedural knowledge.
Student Feedback:
- Students appreciate the balance of support and challenge in mixed groups. High achievers value opportunities to articulate their thinking and learn alternative methods, while others feel more confident and engaged.

Slideshow (Click to download)

FAQs

Plans for September

Click the image to view our plans for September presentation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you share your assessment dates - could they be on Bromcom?

Next year we will be using an app called Satchel One to share homework tasks - we are keen to see if this will be the place where we can post assessment dates early in the year. In the meantime, every subject will share key assessment dates and what is being assessed on their subject web pages and we intend pulling together an overview of this for parents and students at the start of September.

How can I understand more about the banding in interim reports?

You can find the information you need in two places. Firstly a general overview is here: https://www.hccs1978.co.uk/ks3-interim-glossary but if you want more information, Mr Jones and Mr Munro led a webinar on this in the first term. You can watch this and read the notes on the KS3 assessment tab on this page: https://www.hccs1978.co.uk/parent-forums.

How can we, as parents, know more about what action to take if we are worried about interim reports? Can more feedback be given and who should we talk to?

The place to start is by talking with your child and looking at her/his work. Teachers spend a lot of time marking and feeding back on the formal assessments described above. Every faculty has a policy about how this happens, but in ALL cases, students should be able to show you and articulate the area of knowledge or the skill which they need to improve. This feedback will take place at EVERY assessment point described above. If you have more questions, then you should contact the subject leader. She or he will direct your enquiry to the class teacher or respond her/himself as appropriate. You can find heads of subject’s contact details here.

How will I know who to talk to or see at a Year 7 or 8 Showcase event?

Prior to our new showcase events for students in Years 7 and 8 you will receive your child’s interim report. Once you have discussed this with your child, you will be able to form a plan of what areas you want to prioritise seeing. That will include areas to celebrate and also areas where you need more feedback to help you support your child. At the year 7 evening you will have the opportunity to talk to his/her form tutor, while at the Year 8 evening you will be able to talk to his/her English and maths teachers in a booked appointment.

Do parents evenings have to be online/in person - is there an option of both?

We will keep our approach to parents evenings under review as we want them to have the greatest impact on the greatest number of students and families. Next year's showcase events are an example of this. In the longer term, technology may enable ‘blended’ evenings to be delivered effectively but at the moment we have concluded that the complex logistics will take away from the desired impact of these events.

How is homework shared and how can the school ensure this is done more consistently?

All of our subjects are currently reviewing what their homework expectations are. In doing so they are thinking carefully about how we use knowledge organisers to help children think harder and remember more. They are also thinking about the enormous benefits, but also significant risks, posed by the use of AI technology. We will share these expectations in September.

To make your life easier as parents we are investing in the Satchel One app, which will send you students’ homework tasks directly - reducing some of the confusion which comes with the volume of information on the Google Classroom app.

How can I learn more about grouping - especially in maths? Why aren’t children ‘setted’?

You can find all of the information on the ‘grouping’ tab on this page: https://www.hccs1978.co.uk/parent-forums. Earlier this year Miss Eustis and Mr Munro shared a webcast of the rationale behind this thinking in our school. If you have any further questions after having watched the video, please do get in touch with either of them.

Holmes Chapel Comprehensive School & Sixth Form College

PARENT
FORUMS

KS3 ASSESSMENT

GROUPING WEBCAST

High Achieving Learners Presentation

Plans for September

PARENT FORUMS

KS3 ASSESSMENT

PARENT
FORUMS