Assessment and Reporting

Our teachers use a variety of strategies to assess student learning. These include observing work in class and looking closely at tasks throughout the year.

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.

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.

Assessments throughout the year include:

• 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, grammar and punctuation) and numeracy tests for students in Years 3 and 5 held every year in March.
• Phonics Screening Check - a short assessment that tells teachers how students in Year 1 are progressing in phonics.
• Phonological Awareness Diagnostic Assessment - a short on-demand assessment that tells teachers how students are progressing in phonological awareness, which complements existing strategies used to identify students’ progress in foundational literacy skills development.
• Check-In Assessments - An annual online assessment for students in Years 3 to 9 in NSW Public Schools in reading and numeracy, with Year 6 students also completing a writing task. The assessment helps identify student performance in literacy and numeracy, guiding future teaching and learning.
• Some students may elect to the sit the opportunity class (for students in Year 4 going into Year 5 the following year) or selective high school (for students in Year 6 going into Year 7 the following year) placement tests.
• We also complete some assessments in class, throughout the year, including:
• Writing
• Comprehension
• South Australian Spelling Test - A standardised test of spelling achievement for students in the age range 6 years to 16 years
• PM Benchmarking - A reading assessment that helps teachers understand your child's reading level, strengths, and areas for growth to support their learning.
• Essential Assessment - Online, curriculum-aligned assessments used to assess and report on student learning in English and Maths.