Assessment is an integral part of learning and teaching. It helps to provide a picture of a child’s or young person’s progress and achievements and to identify next steps in learning. In St Michael’s Primary, pupils are continuously assessed in an informal way as part of the daily class routine. A wide range of different assessment strategies are used to encourage pupils to recognise their own strengths and areas for development.
“This means that assessment in Curriculum for Excellence will involve a broad range of approaches that allow children and young people to demonstrate what they know, understand and can do. Assessment will support learning and promote learner engagement resulting in greater breadth and depth in learning, including a greater focus on the secure development of knowledge, understanding and skills. To ensure children and young people are making progress across all aspects of planned learning, assessment will place a greater emphasis on literacy and numeracy across the curriculum, health and wellbeing, Information and Communications Technology (ICT) and higher order skills, including creativity.”
Building the Curriculum 5, pg 7
In addition to this, at different points throughout the year, standardised assessments may be used to help teachers assess pupil progress and to identify any strengths and diagnose any barriers to learning.
Parents are invited to attend parents evenings in October and March to discuss their child’s progress and any areas of concern. At present, due to Covid restrictions, these consultations are taking place via telephone call.
All parents will receive a written school report in June each year. This will indicate pupil’s progress in all areas of the curriculum. Curriculum for Excellence developments are being taken forward through the priorities identified in the School Improvement Plan.
“Reporting is being able to provide parents with regular information about their children’s strengths and development needs, an opportunity to discuss with their children their progress in different aspects of the curriculum and a chance to give their views on their children’s progress. It also allows staff to respond, helping parents to understand how they can support their children to develop their learning further. Learners themselves should be in a good position to contribute to discussions about written reports and about their progress in learning at consultation meetings with parents. Parents will get the regular information about their children’s strengths, progress and achievements to which they are entitled. They should be informed about any gaps in their children’s progress and ways that they can help.”
Building the Curriculum 5, pg 5
