Assessment

The Academy reports the assessment of student performance and progress to parents/carers four times a year in writing following formally moderated examinations/tests. In addition the one Academic Tutoring Days and annual Parents’ Subject Consultation Evenings for each year group are further opportunities for parents/carers to discuss their child's progress with teaching staff.

How are student targets set?

The Department for Education expects that all students make progress during their time in secondary education.  This progress is measured from individual student starting points which are the Key Stage 2 Primary SATs.  The progress is measured by the outcomes in GCSE or equivalent qualifications.  This means that when any student starts at Harris City Academy Crystal Palace, initial targets are based on Key Stage 2 SAT scores.  These are the minimum expectations for student progress.

What if the targets are too low?

As these initial targets represent a minimum expectation they are regularly reviewed to ensure that each student is challenged sufficiently.  When a student shows particular strengths in any subject the target is raised to reflect their individual needs.  This happens when any reporting to parents takes place.

How do the new GCSE points relate to old GCSE grades?

From 2017 for English and Maths GCSEs, and from 2018 for all other subjects, the A*-G GCSE grades were replaced by a points scale of 1 to 9.  9 will be the highest grade and 1 the lowest.  The proportion of students nationally gaining at least a Grade 4 will be roughly the same as those who currently gain at least a C.  The proportion of students nationally gaining at least a Grade 7 will be roughly the same as those who currently gain at least an A.  The new Grade 9 will be awarded to the top 20% of students gaining at least a Grade 7.   The table below shows how the new number grades relate to the old GCSE grades.