At Weavers Academy we use both formative and summative assessment to track students’ progress.   Assessments are planned purposefully in a shared yearly calendar. The frequency of assessment provides rich data for all teachers and benefits all students’ progress and learning. These are set by the learning areas at least once every 6 weeks to routinely check the knowledge, skills and understanding of all students. The information received from these ‘6 week’ tests is recorded and then used to support learners in closing gaps. A final End of Year Assessment takes place using CET Centralised Assessment.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is intended to inform day to day teaching and learning. It consists of a range of interactions with pupils that provides immediate and ongoing feedback and immediate interventions during lessons to enable students to make progress. 

Formative assessment allows the teacher to evaluate and adapt their teaching to meet the needs of students, allowing them to learn more effectively and therefore positively impacting their learning to deepen their understanding. In addition, it allows students to evaluate their own work (or that of others) and consider how to improve.

Summative Assessment
Summative assessment allows the teachers to analyse whether the intended curriculum has been taught effectively and enables the reviewing of their curriculum to ensure that students are able to know, remember and do more because of it. Our Heads of Department work with their team to set suitable interim or end-of-unit assessments which are mapped in our Curriculum Planning Spreadsheet and are completed at least once every 6 weeks. These assessments are closely linked the CET Bridging Documentation and the National Curriculum.  

Assessments are mapped and standardised across the team to ensure that all students are receiving an equitable experience. Where assessments are tiered, students should still complete comparable assessments. This work is quality assured by the Assistant Principal for Assessment.

Our subject leaders ensure that rigorous standardisation procedures are followed prior to their team marking any assessment and that suitable moderation is completed as necessary. 

Reporting to Parents
Our main way of communicating a student’s progress with parents is through reports which are sent home. These reports give a brief overview of how a student is working and progressing in the range of subjects taught. This is a ‘snapshot’ based on the evidence available at the time of drafting the report.

Although we do not share every test with parents/carers, we ask staff to summarise student progress and report this to parents through an annual written report and interim data reports throughout the year. These reports are our most important form of communication with parents and will sometimes raise questions regarding a student’s progress.

We strongly encourage parents to read the reports carefully and if the report raises questions, to contact either the subject teacher, form tutor or, if it is across several subjects, the Year Leader.  By working together, we can support your child to feel happy, secure, and able to achieve. We also use parent evenings to further discuss all aspects of pupil progress (linked to pastoral care and academic needs).

Parents’ Evenings
We use parent evenings to further discuss all aspects of pupil progress (linked to pastoral care and academic needs) and welcome parents and carers to contact school at any time if they wish to discuss any aspect of their child’s education or welfare.

As a school, we place greater emphasis on students’ final grade, while ensuring they are on track throughout the year. The reports are our main way of communicating with parents about the progress that their child is making. When reports are issued, it is also an opportunity for parents to talk with their child about the progress they are making in lessons. If the report raises issues, parents should contact their child’s tutor in the first instance.

For more about Parents' Evenings, click here: