Assessment
Assessment in Middle School grows naturally from the courses of study students undertake in each subject. Assessments are designed to offer challenges and to engage students in higher order thinking.
Assessment tasks further develop skills, knowledge and understanding by providing feedback in the form of clear, helpful and accurate information on the student's level of performance on particular tasks, and level of achievement in the skills, knowledge and understandings taught in particular learning areas.
Assessments of various types are made with reference to an established set of criteria. Every assessment task in Middle School is explained to students in a task sheet, accompanied by information outlining the criteria by which the task will be assessed.
Tests include the number of marks allocated to particular parts or questions. Revision sheets are a usual element of test preparation.
As well as formal assessment activities, teachers and students gain new insights about their learning from a range of activities during lessons and as part of 'real world learning'.
In cases where students have special needs, assessments are modified to meet appropriate learning outcomes for the individual.
Reporting
Reporting takes several forms. Parents often contact mentors or specific subject teachers if they have questions or concerns about a student's learning and progress. Frequently, teachers engage in discussion with individuals about their learning, and strategies which might be employed by the student to further improve their level of achievement.
In addition, we have a comprehensive formal structure for reporting to parents, which is as follows:
Term 1:
Meeting between House Mentor, parents (student attendance is optional, at the discretion of parents) to discuss progress in the initial weeks of the year. Interim Reports are posted to parents at the end of term.
Term 2:
Subject parent student teacher interviews in the early weeks of term; full written semester reports at the end of term. These are posted home in July.
Term 3:
House Mentor and student interviews to review Semester 1 and set learning goals for Semester 2. Interim Reports for students in Year 7 and Year 9 are posted to parents at the end of term.
Term 4:
Subject parent student teacher interviews during the early weeks of term; full written semester reports at the year's end. These are posted home in December.
Reports to parents outline the student's approach to their learning, their level of performance on specific tasks, and a descriptive paragraph acknowledging endeavour, achievement, progress and possible strategies for improvement.
