Assessment is the means of obtaining information, which allows teachers, pupils and parents to determine what a pupil is actually achieving in relation to expectations of achievement and drawing conclusions from that comparison.
Each child’s progress is assessed by his/her class teacher throughout the year. Pupils are given the opportunity to discuss their progress and assess their performance. Teachers choose a variety of methods to capture what pupils say, write, make and do, but teachers use their professional judgement on a day to day basis as they observe pupils engaging in activities to assess progress.
Assessment is for Learning
Within class, teachers use a number of strategies within the Assessment is for Learning model to provide better feedback for pupils, which in turn leads to improved performance and achievement. Assessment is for Learning recognises that children learn best when:
- They understand what they are trying to learn and what is expected of them.
- They are given feedback about the quality of their work and what they can do to make it better.
- They are given advice about how to go about making improvements.
- They are fully involved in deciding what needs to be done next and who can give them help if required.
Teachers report on pupils’ progress and attainment across the whole curriculum, using their professional judgement and the evidence available to them from continuous formative assessments undertaken throughout the year in relation to nationally agreed and understood standards. The school uses a number of standardised assessments during a pupil’s school life, as required by the local authority. They are:
- P1 – Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA) in Literacy and Numeracy (English Medium pupils)
- P1 – Measaidhean Coitcheann Nàiseanta Ghàidhlig (MCNG) in Literacy and Numeracy (Gaelic Medium pupils)
- P4 – Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA) in Literacy and Numeracy (English Medium pupils)
- P4 – Measaidhean Coitcheann Nàiseanta Ghàidhlig (MCNG) in Literacy and Numeracy (Gaelic Medium pupils)
- P5 – Cognitive Ability Tests (CATs) (English and Gaelic Medium pupils)
- P7 – Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA) in Literacy and Numeracy (English and Gaelic Medium pupils)
- P7 – Measaidhean Coitcheann Nàiseanta Ghàidhlig (MCNG) in Literacy and Numeracy (Gaelic Medium pupils)
Results of these tests are made available to parents upon their completion and verification. Further information regarding purposes and types of assessment can be found in our Assessment Strategy which is available below:
