Reporting Assessment

Grades are given as part of a judgement about student achievement.

1. At least 3 times per quarter teachers should choose a piece of work for students to do that is then marked on a scale of A-E. Teachers are to explain to students it will be graded, provide students with criteria and then mark accordingly. These pieces of work should be done independently. They should not all be tests of memory. At least one should be a thinking or creative task.
2. At the end of each quarter, the students are given assessments in maths, language and literature, science and social studies. Each subject is marked out of 10. The questions are based directly on the curriculum requirements for that quarter. Teachers are to consider the student results as a tool for reflection on their teaching of that quarter’s curriculum.
3. As part of the Ministry requirements, each student has marks (1-5) recorded on a blue table that is forwarded with the students to their next school (if applicable). These marks are recorded quarterly and should be based on professional judgement, with due consideration given to the end of quarter assessment results.
4. Twice a year, parents are given written reports (these should have no surprises – parents should be kept informed if their child is struggling) with 2 columns of grades (A+ – E-). One of these columns will reflect the student’s achievement of curriculum outcomes. The other will reflect the effort of each student based on the improvements they have made, and their diligence and willingness. These grades will be decided using professional judgement based on the semester’s continual assessment. Comments will be provided to reflect the learning, behaviour, and attitude of each student – written by each subject teacher. The effort grades are given in accordance with the school’s belief that every child can be a brilliant student. For us, a brilliant student is one who is kind, diligent, thoughtful, ethical, attentive, hard-working, and considerate. We strive for this brilliance as equally as we strive for academic achievement; and we value neither of these above the other.
5. Grades 2 and 3 will sit for external, international standard tests in maths and reading comprehension in early December each year. These tests are multiple choice and developed by the governments of UK and Australia for their national testing programme.

*Parents are welcome to make appointments at any time to discuss their child’s work and/or report. Likewise teachers should make appointments with parents if they have concerns. The following is written on each report card:

This report is graded against the expectations of the curriculum and for the effort that students have made.

“Please note the grades and their definitions. These might be very different from what you have known previously but are using internationally accepted definitions. A majority of Cs shows that your child is exactly at the expected place.

A – Exceptional achievement in all areas of the subject and exceeding standards.

B – Very good achievement and working above expected standards in most areas of the subject.

C – Working well at expected standards.

D – Progressing towards expected standards.

E – Finding some aspects of the expected work challenging.”

In a class, no more than 15% of marks should be A or E – if a majority of students are graded A or E, it shows the work is too easy or too hard. C is fine – it is the achievement expected at that level.