Exam and Assessment Results
Assessment, Recording & Reporting
Pupils will arrive at the Martin Bacon Academy at different times throughout the school year and at any point during their school life. It is therefore important to be accurate about the assessment information we receive. Prior to entry pupils will have been met by at least one member of the SLT. This will have been carried out, if possible, as their current school or education provision (during Covid through a TEAMS video call). This will ensure that staff have a clarity of understanding about the needs of pupils and that important information is accurately recorded and effectively shared with the staff team of MBA.
During their first term, pupils will participate in a range of assessments in order to develop a holistic baseline. These assessments will, of course, be completed in a coproduced manner to ensure that parents and families, as well as the pupil, have knowledge of what is being recorded about them and what this means. The assessment information gathered will then be used to support improvements to EHCP writing and curriculum planning for the individual needs of the pupil. At MBA we will set challenging targets from our accurate knowledge of starting points.
Following on; At the Martin Bacon Academy the vast majority of learners will have an Educational Health and Care Plan. However, our cohort of learners are all individuals and as such their strengths and needs vary widely. Whilst assessment is a powerful tool in understanding our learners better it must be flexible to their individual strengths and needs. It is difficult to compare outcomes for a cohort which is small and for whom learning might look very different. Yet to not assess and track what is truly important to the young person would go against the purpose of education. Therefore, at MBA we believe that assessment should be the opportunity for the learner to share the narrative of their progress, success, challenges and potential. Through the pupil centred reviews we will ensure that all people around each learner understand where they are, how they are doing and where they want to be.
The Purpose of Assessment at MBA is to inform planning and enables us to be aspirational for all Pupils. It keeps us on task and on track without placing a ceiling on expectations. Our approach to assessment tracks and monitors learning daily and promotes regular and active discussion between professionals, parents and other carers. This progress is an integral part of our curriculum and supports us in celebrating the, sometimes small, steps of progress.
Our assessment is based upon pupils EHCP outcomes and our own baseline assessments, it builds on ‘preparing for adulthood’ expectations. We believe that assessment must capture attainment in a variety of contexts. Skills gained by the learner need to be recognised and to be generalised both in school and at home because learning occurs within a 24hr context.
At MBA we use the Evidence of learning App. The App will be used by all professionals within the academy to capture learning with a photo and/or video, framework and progressive commenting. All educational professionals are expected to record evidence of learning throughout the day, including during offsite activity, in music, PE and in Hydrotherapy. All these pieces of evidence in a range of settings forms a picture of the learner’s progress for Class Teachers to make judgments on. Evidence can come in many forms, including:
- Photos showing a skill being used
- Videos recording evidence of learning
- A short write up of what has been learnt
- Photos of written work completed by the learner
- Observations captured as part of EYFS expectations
- Evidence captured by other professionals during learning walks and other observations, for example, using the Engagement Profile
- When appropriate learner’s feedback and comments are included in the app
(This is not an exhaustive list.)
Each piece of evidence is matched to a target that is set by the Teacher with reference to the child’s EHCP plan and My Journey. Depending on the Learners priorities and ability, one of a number of ‘frameworks’ can be used. Any Framework used is decided on an individual basis and should support the learner in achieving meaningful attainment that contributes to real progress at home and in school.
MBA’s assessment frameworks are;
- EYFS
- Pre-Key Stage Standards
- Engagement Model
- SCERTS
- National Curriculum
Our school results will be published here once they become available.
Please note that The Department for Education are not currently publishing performance tables due to Covid-19.