Assessment and Reporting

SCHOOL ASSESSMENT AND REPORTING

Student assessments are developed using a standards-referenced approach with the A-E Common Grade Scale as a point of reference for determining student achievement.

The A to E Common Grade Scale summarises the standard (or quality) of achievement associated with each grade. The scale describes:

the depth of knowledge and understanding; and
the range of skills that students working at that standard typically show.

Grades are given for individual achievement. Individual performance is measured against stage appropriate outcomes, with achievement determined by the administering of quality assessment for, of and as learning experiences. Students receive the grade that best matches the standard of their achievement they have demonstrated. Teachers are not limited to set numbers of each grade within their class or school.

Feedback is directed to the achievement of standards and away from comparisons with peers. It is not an indicator of potential, but rather of how evidence from assessments and observations meet the assessment criteria.

Grades are one aspect of school reporting to parents. Other important tools include:

teacher comments
parent-teacher interviews
information about student effort and application

Student performance is formally reported on towards the end of Term 2 (Semester 1) and again at the end of Term 4 (Semester 2). A school report is prepared in accordance with the CEDoW Assessment and Reporting Policy, providing information about student progress.

Parent/teacher/student learning conferences are held in conjunction with the written student report. At other times during the school year parents or teachers can request an interview to discuss student achievement.

The Common Grade Scale describes performance at each of five grade levels:

A	The student has an extensive knowledge and understanding of the content and can readily apply this knowledge. In addition, the student has achieved a very high level of competence in the processes and skills and can apply these skills to new situations.
B	The student has a thorough knowledge and understanding of the content and a high level of competence in the processes and skills. In addition, the student is able to apply this knowledge and these skills to most situations.
C	The student has a sound knowledge and understanding of the main areas of content and has achieved an adequate level of competence in the processes and skills.
D	The student has a basic knowledge and understanding of the content and has achieved a limited level of competence in the processes and skills.
E	The student has an elementary knowledge and understanding in few areas of the content and has achieved very limited competence in some of the processes and skills.

For more information, visit the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) and the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) website.

NAPLAN

Primary students in Year 3 and Year 5 participate in the National Assessment Program - Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) in May each year. NAPLAN is a part of the National Assessment Program (NAP) and how governments, education authorities and schools can determine whether young Australians are reaching important educational goals.

Students are assessed using common national tests in Reading, Writing, Language Conventions (Spelling, Grammar and Punctuation) and Numeracy.

NAPLAN tests broadly reflect aspects of literacy and numeracy common to curriculums in all States and Territories. The types of test formats and questions are chosen so that they are familiar to teachers and students across Australia. The school and parents are provided with a written report in late Term 3. The data of all students is analysed by the school to inform learning and teaching, to focus on professional learning and develops targets for improvement.

For more information, visit the National Assessment Program (NAP) website.

NAPLAN ONLINE

The transition from the current paper-based tests to computer-based assessments is currently underway in schools across the country – including at St Pius X. Moving NAPLAN online brings many new opportunities for students and teachers that are limited or not possible with paper-based tests including:

Better assessment and more precise results – NAPLAN Online uses a tailored test or adaptive design, where the test automatically adapts to a student's performance and asks questions that match the student achievement level, allowing the student to demonstrate their knowledge. This provides teachers and schools with more targeted and detailed information on students’ performance on the tests. Tailored testing also provides an opportunity to broaden the scope of the assessments.
Faster turnaround of results – Delivery of assessments online significantly reduces the time it takes to provide feedback to schools, students and parents, so teachers can respond more quickly to learning needs.
More engaging – ACARA research into online assessment has shown that students have engaged well with electronic tests.

As technology develops, ACARA aims to further refine the delivery of the tests to best use the available technology to provide increasingly sophisticated assessments and valuable feedback to teachers, parents and education authorities.

For more information about NAPLAN Online, visit the NAP website and view the 'Understanding NAPLAN Online' video below.