The  use of Targets - Information for Parents

Setting Annual Targets

Teaching staff use a variety of information and prior attainment data to judge the ability and future learning potential of all students.  Specific sources of reference are:

Key Stage 3 & 4

·         CAT’s baseline testing (Completed in Year 7)

·         Fischer Family Trust estimates

·         Key Stage 2 Average Points Score (Derived from student performance in their Year 6 SAT's examinations)

Key Stage 5

·         Key Stage 4 Average Points Score (Derived from student performance in their Year 11 examinations)

·         Fischer Family Trust estimates

·         ALIS testing

Using this information, and taking into account other important factors, the school can extract an accurate line of ‘expected’ progress that your child should make as they move through the school. 

At the beginning of each academic year, teachers will set an annual end of year target which is largely informed by using Fischer Family Trust (FFT) data.  This target will be set to challenge the student. It will be set at a level slightly above the ‘expected’ level of progress.  

Teaching staff are very conscious that the annual targets are:

·         Informed (Using a variety of data and other information),

·         Challenging,

·         Achievable,

With excellent attendance, continuous hard work, and good school / home support, we feel that these targets are realistic.  ‘Challenging, but achievable’.

The majority of students at Stratford High School will meet or surpass their target by the end of the academic year.  Consequently these students are judged as having made very good progress.

Conversely, If students do not reach their target, then they are judged to be making no better than ‘expected’ progress, and in some cases could be working below this.

The tracking process – Use of eportal.

By using your eportal log in and password you will gain access to additional information about your child, their attainment and their progress.

Once logged in, a variety of information about your child will be displayed:

·         Personal information,

·         Timetable,

·         Teaching groups,

·         Predictions (Estimates based on CAT data and Fischer Family Trust)

·         Attendance,

·         Prior attainment (Key Stage 2 SAT’s levels)

 You can navigate around each area further to gain more detailed information. 

Target Analysis

Every term each subject will issue a level of attainment for your child.  Departments will arrive at the grade in various ways including classwork, assessment tests, formally assessed pieces of work, module assessments, or a combination of these.

The annual teacher target will also be displayed.

We then use a traffic light system to compare the current assessment grade against the annual target.

If your child’s current attainment is surpassing their target, the grade box will turn green.

If your child’s current attainment equals their target, the grade box will turn amber.

If your child’s current attainment is below their target, the grade box will be red.

Remember that the targets are end of year expectations. As assessments are issued each term, students will continue to work towards them.  It is important to observe the rate of change in your child’s attainment and the progress they are making towards achieving their target grade.

Summary

Observing the trend in your child’s grades (Are the grades increasing, decreasing or staying the same?) will show you whether progress is being made.

Comparing your child’s grades to the annual teacher targets will show you whether progress is ‘below’, ‘meeting’ or ‘exceeding’ expectation.

Do not be concerned that your child may appear under target in some subjects during the early stages of Key Stage Three. In subjects such as Art, Music, Drama, MFL or Physical Education we initially do not expect students to be performing at the same level as the more traditional ‘academic’ subjects.  This is mainly because they do not enter the school at the same attainment level.  

When should you be happy?

You should be pleased if:

·         Your child’s attainment is showing improvement during the year; and,

·         Their attainment is advancing towards their target grade. 

Remember, students who are meeting their target are judged to be making atleast ‘good’ progress.

However, if they are making limited improve and not progressing towards their annual target then you should feel right to be concerned.  However, rest assured that we will also be aware of this, and we’ll be working together with you and your child to get them back on track.

Caution

Don’t be unnecessarily worried by the odd ‘lapse’, where one of your child’s grades may drop slightly.   Students will sometimes find a particular topic more challenging or there may be personal reasons that have affected your child’s progress for a short time. We are sharing more detail than ever with you in terms of your child's progress, which requires some interpretation.

Early in the school year do not be alarmed if the tracking shows a lot of red, as students are working towards meeting their target at the end of the summer term.