Progress and Assessment
Ipsative assessment is a highly personalised form of assessment where progress is measured against the needs and goals of the individual, not in comparison to external standards or the performance of other students or larger groups.
We ipsatively assess our students each term based on a range of factors unique to them and use these factors to evaluate progress in different areas of the curriculum as well as in relation to the students EHCP.
Progress judgements:
- Little Progress: requiring Case Study
- Good Progress
- Significant Progress.
All of the indicators used within the assessment (PLG, Developmental Assessments and the Engagement Model) are moderated through a collaborative process with a range of colleagues (class teams, pathway teams, therapy teams, and Senior Leaders).
The Judgement as well as qualitative information (i.e what can they do/what do they know now that they didn’t before) is then recorded on each learner’s Individual Progress Review.
At 6th Form this process forms the basis of an approach to measuring progress called RARPA.
RARPA stands for Recognising and Recording Progress and Achievement. It is a tried and tested approach to ensuring the quality of non-accredited learning programmes.
Where students are making ‘little progress’ in an identified area(s) of the curriculum a case study will be carried out by the class team with support of the Senior Leadership team. The purpose of the case study is to identify possible barriers to learning and potential strategies to promote improved engagement and learning.
Below is an example of the Progress Review. This is an Early Years example, so the curriculum areas on the progress review for individual students will vary according to the pathway.
Evidence for learning
Evidence for learning is used to quickly and easily gather photo, video and anecdotal evidence, linked to the individual’s students’ learning goals (PLG’s) as well as other relevant assessment frameworks.
We gather observations:
- To help us understand students learning journey and what progress looks like for them in terms of their planned curriculum (PLG)
- To help us understand the stage of development children and young people are working at
- To help us understand what engagement looks likes for them and what their engagement motivators are
- To allow families to understand the progress their children are making and how they might support them at home-through the family app