Assessment

Our approach to assessment: 

• Assessment is a vital part of the learning process.  Assessment is continuous, with questioning, quizzing, tests, presentations and practice exam tasks built into the curriculum. 
• Assessment allows teachers to check understanding effectively, and to rapidly identify and correct misunderstandings. 
• Assessment allows students to embed and use their knowledge and to develop their understanding. 
• Verbal and written feedback on assessments is shared with students as part of the learning process.  
• Progress in every subject is reported to parents via reports to parents and at Parents’ Evening.  
    

In addition to continuous assessment in lessons, students sit the following formal assessments: 

Year 7 baseline assessments in core subjects

Year 7, 8 and 9 end of year exams

Year 7, 8 and 9 reading age assessments

Year 10 end of year mock GCSE exams

Year 11 mock GCSE exams (December and March)

Year 11 GCSE examinations

Year 12 end of year mock A Level and Applied exams

Year 13 mock A Level and Applied exams (December and March)

Year 13 A Level and Vocational Exams

Key Stage 3 Assessment

At KS3 (Years 7, 8 and 9) our focus is on measuring the progress of the whole student.                                                                    Academic progress is measured in terms of which of the categories below a student has achieved.

MASTERING

SECURING

DEVELOPING

EMERGING

Each subject has developed subject specific descriptors for each of the categories above but essentially the expectation is that all students should be striving to achieve SECURE in all of their subjects. If a student is SECURE in a subject then they will have gained the understanding, skills and knowledge needed to enable them to progress at this stage of their educational journey. If they're MASTERING then they will be making exceptional progress, over and above general expectations. Students at DEVELOPING and EMERGING are not yet SECURE in their learning. Targeted support will then be put in place to support students in developing their skills, knowledge and understanding to the expected standards. Click on this link to go to the subject pages if you want to view individual subject specific progress descriptors Belle Vue Girls' Academy - Subjects (bvgacademy.co.uk).

To support our understanding of each student's academic progress we also record a student's Competencies and Attributes. These are measured against a 4 point scale with 1 being high. The expectation is that all students should aspire to be at least a '2'. Please click on this link if you'd like to know more BVGA Competencies & Attributes.pdf

Alongside Academic progress we also measure the Experiences and Activities each student has encountered as part of their holistic learning journey at Belle Vue Girls' Academy, focusing on 5 key areas:

After School Activities

Careers Education

Enrichment Activities

Leadership Opportunities

Trips and Visits

Following each data collection parents will receive an electronic report detailing the progress made by their daughters in all aspects of school life. For an example of a typical KS3 report please click here Sample KS3 Progress Report .pdf

Key Stage 4 and 5 Assessment

At KS4/5 (Years 10,11,12 and 13) our focus is on measuring academic progress towards targets. We collect data 3 times throughout the year with a view to identifying those students who need extra support and guidance. Intervention strategies will then be coordinated by the Head of Year along with individual subject teachers to support students in maximising their full potential.