Assesment

Assessment is an ongoing process concerned with gathering information about student competencies and planning to promote future learning. It focusses not only on what students have achieved, but also on the processes they have used to reach their goals and their perceptions of their own success. It aims to promote a positive attitude towards learning and to encourage the pursuit of excellence. It also enables teachers to improve their planning of effective teaching strategies and learning situations.

Periodic assessment allows teachers the opportunity to determine a student’s understanding of the academic content, and to adjust lesson plans to assist the student to further their education. Teachers assess students throughout the academic year in various ways, including observation, short tests or quizzes, and other methods that facilitate an appraisal of individual and group progress.

Student reports are produced by the classroom teacher in Primary and the mentor in Secondary. In Secondary, more formal internal examinations are followed by external examinations. The reports are published three times per academic year. The reports coincide with a student conference allowing parent, teacher and student the opportunity to discuss growth. Reporting is an opportunity for students to self-assess, and for parents and teachers to evaluate the progress of each child. Reporting offers an insight into the development of the student in each subject. The reporting process should be positive, in that it helps the student and teachers to address strengths and areas for development to create the best learning environment possible. Parents are welcome to check in with the teacher at any time during the academic year to determine student progress in class, by making an advance appointment.

Our students take GL Progress Tests, during May and June, in English, Mathematics and Science in Years 3 to 6 and in Year 9 and in English and Mathematics in Years 2, 7 and 8. On admission to Year 4 and above or on moving into Years 4, 7 and 10, all students also sit the GL CAT4 online cognitive abilities assessment.