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Dear Parent/Guardian,

I am writing to explain important government changes to assessment that will affect your daughter. These will affect your daughter differently depending on what year she is in, so I hope you find the following information helpful.

If you have any questions regarding the changes to assessment and reporting we would like to offer you an opportunity to discuss this on Monday 13^th October at 6pm. This meeting, for parents/guardians of girls in years 7-9 only, will go through the changes and will explain the new reports you will receive after October half term. There is also a video explaining the changes on the academy website, should you require further information.

Years 7 & 8

Firstly, there are no more levels in Years 7 and 8. Instead, teachers will focus on students gaining a deep understanding and mastery of skills in each of their subjects. The government felt that students should not focus on what number they are, but actually whether they have really understood and learnt something. It was also felt that labelling students with a number is demotivating to those that may not be achieving high levels.

Although students are not given ‘levels’ at each half term their teachers will give them a half termly cumulative test. This test is critical in ensuring we know students have understood the topics they have been taught. It will also enable us to predict what score they should achieve at the end of their GCSE students. This appears on the half termly reports as AMLG (Assessment Most Likely Grade). Teachers will also use their professional opinion and will predict grades, which will appear on the reports under TMLG (Teacher Most Likely Grade). The final change is to the grading system, students in Year 7 and 8 will no longer be awarded  A* - G grades instead they will receive a number from 1 – 9 (9 being the highest and 1 being the lowest).

Years 9

If your daughter is in Year 9, the changes will affect her GCSE grading at the end of Year 11. Due to GCSE reforms your daughter will receive a number 1 – 9 in English and Maths (9 being the highest and 1 the lowest). This replaces the old system of A* - G. In all other subjects she will receive a grade A* - G as per the current reporting system.

We will continue to assess your daughter half termly, through cumulative testing, but there will be a change to what is reported. Your daughter will now receive an AMLG (Assessment Most Likely Grade) following each cumulative test. Her score on this test will predict what she will achieve at the end of the GCSE studies. Teachers will also use their professional opinion and will predict grades, which will appear on the reports under TMLG (Teacher Most Likely Grade). Again, for English and Maths this will appear as a number 1 – 9, for all other subjects this will appear as GCSE grades A* - G.

Years 10 & 11

If your daughter is in years 10 or 11, we will continue to assess her half termly, through cumulative testing, but there will be a change to what is reported. Your daughter will now receive an AMLG (Assessment Most Likely Grade) following each cumulative test. Her score on this test will predict what she will achieve at the end of the GCSE studies. Teachers will also use their professional opinion and will predict grades, which will appear on the reports under TMLG (Teacher Most Likely Grade).

Changes to half-termly reports for all students

In light of these changes we have changed the structure of our half termly reports. Teachers will now grade students on their competency in Numeracy, Literacy and Oracy. Teachers will also look for STAR qualities; Studious, Team Player, Articulate and Resilient as in order to be a successful learner your daughter will need to demonstrate these things.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued support and wish your daughter all the best in her GCSE studies.

Yours Sincerely,

Miss J Young,

Assistant Principal

Assessments and Reporting