RELIGIOUS EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Key Stage 3 Assessment

Key Stage Three Assessment

The national board withdrew the Levels of attainment as they had proved unworkable (2002) We had been working with the Diocese to try to formulate our own levels but without the national guidance it was not very productive. The Departmental Improvement plan (DIP) 04/05 has placed this as our main priority with the publication in Sept05 of the AO1 Levels. (AO2 Due out in 06) Our Assessment policy has been revised to address this (See appendix) and to take account of the implementation of the Assessment for Learning (AFL) being introduced through the KS3 strategy across the school. Present assessment of pupil work is based on an agreed set of objectives for each unit. Self Assessment is a key component for pupils and has proved an invaluable tool. It allows pupils the opportunity to enter into some kind of dialogue with their teachers by identifying for themselves the areas of strength they have and deciding specific targets for improvement.

Pupil achievement levels are taken initially from the VRQ & NVRQ scores and other tests done in yr7. Grades are not put on KS3 work as a rule which allows staff to make diagnostic and formative comments on key pieces of work to help students to progress.

This is monitored through work scrutiny and lesson observations .The development of a more systematic approach to this is part of the 04/05 DIP.