Keeping track of pupils' progress

One of the joys of working in a small independent school is the opportunity really to get to know each child. Alongside the regular, informal monitoring and support this allows us to provide, we also have various more formal structures to keep track of each pupil's progress.

Informal support and interaction

Monitoring children's progress starts in the classroom, day to day. Because of our small classes and the family atmosphere of the school, much of the interaction between pupil and teacher is regular and informal – and because of the closeness of the teacher-pupil relationship, we get to know each child well. This naturally informs our teaching and support.

Structured, ongoing monitoring

In a more formal context, we use a system run by Durham University known as MIDYIS: Middle Years Information System. Every student is assessed by this system when they join us.

The idea behind MIDYIS is that one measures ability and aptitude for learning rather than achievement. The results of this (in combination with our own professional judgement) allow us to make sure that our academic expectations of each student are realistic.

MIDYIS also helps us track and improve pupil attainment and to gauge the performance of our students relative to other schools nationally – at the same time as providing us with post-GCSE value added feedback on each individual student.

Comprehensive reports sent to parents

Twice a term, we send out effort and attainment grades to parents, accompanied by a brief report written by their child's Form Tutor.

Twice a year – at the end of the Autumn and Summer terms – these are supplemented by full written reports.