Our teachers use a wide variety of strategies and tools to assess student learning. Assessment for learning, or formative assessment occurs throughout all lessons and provides information to adjust future learning. Assessment of learning, or summative assessment activities are also used throughout the year. Tools or strategies that are used by teachers to assess student learning include observations, discussions, authentic learning tasks, samples of learning, games, learning journals and student reflections. Teachers meet regularly to moderate student assessment activities to develop consistency of teacher judgement.
Twice a year, teachers formally assess a student’s achievement based on the outcomes described in the syllabus of each subject. A written report using the common grade scale is sent home in the first half of the year, usually near the end of Term 2, and again in Term 4. This gives a clear picture of your child’s learning.
All Semester reports are available to parents via our secure Parent Portal; details on how to register and access reports are available as appropriate through the school newsletter.
Assessments
We provide detailed information to students about what we expect from them throughout the year and how their work will be assessed. Students have a number of formal assessments throughout their schooling.
- Best Start – a mandatory, one-to-one assessment that identifies a student’s literacy and numeracy skills at the beginning of Kindergarten.
- National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) – reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, punctuation and grammar) and numeracy tests for students in Years 3 and 5. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) holds the tests in May each year. Results and student reports are released in August.
- Validation of Assessment for Learning and Individual Development (VALID) – online diagnostic science assessment for students in Year 6.
- Some students may elect to sit the opportunity class or selective high school placement tests. For more information, visit selective high schools and opportunity classes.
Interviews
During Term 1, all parents/carers will have an opportunity to share information about their child during an interview with their child’s teacher. Interviews are booked online through School Interviews; details on how to register and book are available as appropriate through the school newsletter. All parents/carers are invited to seek feedback about their child’s learning throughout the year. You are welcome to make contact via the school office to arrange a mutually acceptable time to discuss your child’s progress either by email, over the telephone or face to face.