Children across the school from Primary 1- Primary 7 complete GL assessments at the start of each school year at St James’.
GL assessments are formative assessments that covers ability, attitude and attainment to provide a holistic view of each pupil. This approach provides teachers and senior leaders with the data and insights to:
- Inform teaching and learning
- Track progress effectively
- Provide evidence of progress
- Identify barriers to learning and motivate students
- Diagnose and monitor additional educational needs
- Facilitate whole school improvement.
Rather than testing children’s knowledge, the assessments are designed to help teachers understand each child’s strengths and weaknesses as an individual. The results from the assessments help teachers decide about the pace of learning that is right for a child, and whether additional support or challenge is needed.
There is no pass or fail and children and young people won’t be expected to do any preparation at home. In fact, GL Assessment strongly advises against preparing in advance.
‘The point of the assessment is that it’s not a test of learnt knowledge, and it needs to be as unaffected as possible by external factors, such as practice, think of it like an eye test: if you practise ahead of the test by memorising the card, your diagnosis may not be correct and valuable information may be missed.’
Sue Thompson, senior publisher at GL Assessment.
Class Teachers will support classes to access the online assessments. All pupils will complete the Pupil Attitudes to Self and School (PASS) Assessment as well as the Progress Test in English (PTE) and Progress Test in Maths (PTM). Pupils in primary 3- 7 will also complete the New Group Reading Test (NGRT) and New Group Spelling Test (NGST) as well as the Cognitive Abilities Test (CAT). Assessments will take place in class as part of your child’s everyday school work.
For further information about GL Assessments you can contact the school.
