Assessment and Reporting
Assessment at St. Pius X
St Pius X Windale acknowledges that assessing student knowledge, skills and understanding, and providing high quality feedback are critical in assisting students and parents to participate fully in the learning process.
Assessment is the broad name for the collection and evaluation of evidence of a student’s learning. It is integral to teaching and learning and has multiple purposes. (BOS, 2013)
Assessment is about reporting on students’ achievements and about teaching them better through expressing to them more clearly the goals of our curricula. It is about measuring student learning; it is about diagnosing misunderstandings in order to help students to learn more effectively. It concerns the quality of the teaching as well as the quality of the learning. (Ramsden, 2003, p 177)
At St Pius X Catholic Primary School, we aim to embed assessment as part of the teaching learning cycle.
Assessment at St Pius X is based on the assessment framework:
- Assessment for Learning
- Assessment as Learning
- Assessment of Learning
Experiences used to gather assessment information include:
- projects and assignments
- oral reports or explanations
- multi-media presentations
- work samples
- explanation and demonstration to others
- questions posed by students
- practical tasks
- investigation and/or reports
- written reports
- pen and paper tests, short quizzes
- comprehension and interpretation exercises
- teacher/student discussions or interviews
- observation of students during learning activities, including listening to students’ use of language
Reporting at St. Pius X Windale
Student Achievement in Key Learning areas
At St Pius X, we aim to provide comprehensive, accurate and constructive information about the students’ achievements and progress throughout the year by reporting to parents and offering parent interviews.
Reporting To Parents:
• A formal End of Semester Report is sent home to each family on the student’s academic progress. As of 2006, assessment of student achievement must be reported to parents (twice yearly) using the Common Grade Scale (A-E)
• As well as the End of Semester Report the school also reports the child’s academic / social achievement through a range of formats which may include:
+ Formal and informal Interviews
+ Personalised Plan Meetings
+ Comments on students’ assessment tasks
• Presentations are organised for parents whenever a change in curriculum or reporting processes is made. These presentations may be in the form of a formal presentation or as part of a report at a P&F meeting
Students' achievement for the strands for each of the Key Learning Areas is reported using a five point Common Grade Scale. This information is then used to give the overall achievement for each Key Learning Area, using the same scale.
A Outstanding Achievement
The student has an extensive knowledge and understanding of the content and can readily apply this knowledge. In addition, the student has achieved a very high level of competence in the processes and skills and can apply these skills to new situations.
B High Achievement
The student has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the content and a high level of competence in the processes and skills. In addition, the student is able to apply this knowledge and these skills to most situations.
C Sound Achievement
The student has a sound knowledge and understanding of the main areas of content and has achieved an adequate level of competence in the processes and skills.
D Basic Achievement
The student has a basic knowledge and understanding of the content and has achieved a limited level of competence in the processes and skills.
E Limited Achievement
The student has an elementary knowledge and understanding in a few areas of content and has achieved very limited competence in some of the processes and skills.
Please see the NSW Assessment Resource Centre website for more information.