When your child starts at Featherstone High School, they will often have completed the Year 6 SATs exams at primary school. We use the KS2 Reading and Maths scores from these national tests to look at the prior ability of your child.

Our curriculum is a progressive curriculum. This means that the curriculum at KS3 is designed to develop pupils’ core knowledge, understanding and skill set from primary school and to support their transition to KS4.

Our KS3 curriculum is a local curriculum although grounded in the National Curriculum. Thus, a pupil working at mastery in one subject may not be at the same equivalence as one working at mastery in another subject, simply because of their primary experiences. We give the time necessary to each subject to accelerate pupil progress over the three year KS3.

Our expectation is that all pupils will have a minimum secure understanding of the curriculum, giving them a solid foundation to then move on to KS4.

Throughout Years 7-9, pupils will be assessed against our FHS grade descriptors. These descriptors take into consideration starting points and demonstrate the levels of understanding of the curriculum that has been taught to them. Pupil’s will receive a grade for pieces of assessed work and a holistic judgement will then be reported to parents.

The following grades will be reported:

• Mastery – pupils have an in-depth understanding of the content and skills taught.
• Advanced – pupils have a deeper and more detailed understanding of the content and skills taught.
• Secure – pupils have a clear understanding of the content and skills taught.
• Developing – pupils are showing some understanding of the content and skills taught.
• Emerging – pupils are beginning to understand the content and skills taught.

Two times in the year, subject teachers will report on all the information they have on a pupil’s learning. One of the reports will be an interim report which will just give an indication as to the quality of classwork and homework.

The main Academic Report will be given towards the end of the year and will provide the following:

• A Working at Grade (Mastery to Emerging). This is the grade your child is working at.
• Classwork grades for effort in each subject (A – D)
• Home Learning grades for effort in each subject (A – D)
• Attendance and Behaviour for Learning information (e.g. Achievement and Behaviour Points)

If a pupil is not making the expected progress, support will be provided by the class teacher using a range of strategies and this will be discussed with you either through a Parents Evening or at times through individual contact home. Your child will be monitored carefully through our year teams as well as by the Lead Teacher in each curriculum area. They may also be mentored by their Form Tutor.

At the beginning of Year 10, your child will be set minimum GCSE targets. These are based on FFT Aspire (DfE approved targets) using data from the KS2 SATS and national data trends. These targets are aspirational and therefore ensure that we have the highest expectations of pupils to fulfil their academic potential. Depending on a pupil’s progress and also national trends, these targets can change throughout the GCSE years.

Pupils will be assessed using past paper questions, formal assessments and exams so that they are fully prepared for their final public examinations at the end of Year 11. Two times in the year, subject teachers will provide grades based on all the information they have on a pupil’s learning.

You will receive this in an Academic Report which will include the following:

• A GCSE Working At Grade. This is the grade that your child is currently working at.
• A GCSE Predicted grade. This is the grade that your child is likely to achieve if they continue to work at this same level at the end of Year 11
• Classwork grades for effort in each subject (A – D)
• Home Learning grades for effort in each subject (A – D)
• Attendance and Behaviour for Learning information (e.g. Achievement and Behaviour Points)

The Working At and Predicted grade will also be fine graded:

+ indicates that a child is able to work at the next grade up and therefore can be stretched

= indicates that a child is secure within that grade

– indicates that a child is at risk within that grade and may be closer to the grade below

These fine grades allow teachers to target support and interventions in a more precise way. If your child’s predictions are below their target grades, they will be monitored thoroughly and appropriate help and support will be put into place so that they achieve the best they can. You will be able to discuss your child’s progress at Parents Evenings as well as through individual appointments.

When your child enters our Sixth Form, their GCSE results are used to calculate targets for A Levels and BTEC Extended Certificates and Diplomas. The school uses a national database (ALPS) to generate aspirational targets that we expect your child to achieve at the end of Year 13. Throughout the year, pupils will be tested using a range of assessments. Two times in the year, subject teachers will provide grades based on all the information they have on a pupil’s learning.

You will receive an Academic Report each term with the following information:

• A Working At Grade (A Level only). This is the grade that your child is currently working at.
• A Predicted grade (A Level and BTEC). This is the grade your child is likely to achieve if they continue to work at this same level by the end of Year 13
• Classwork grades for effort in each subject (A-D)
• Home Learning grades for effort in each subject (A-D)
• Attendance and Behaviour for Learning information (e.g. Achievement and Behaviour Points)

The Working At and Predicted grade will also be fine graded:

+ indicates that a child is able to work at the next grade up and therefore can be stretched

= indicates that a child is secure within that grade

– indicates that a child is at risk within that grade and may be closer to the grade below

Teachers use these fine grades to target students carefully to ensure the appropriate support and challenge is there. If your child is below their target grade, they will be monitored in class and external interventions may be put into place so that your child achieves well. You will be able to discuss your child’s progress at Parents Evenings as well as through individual appointments.

Through the partnership between school, students and parents/carers, Together we will Achieve!

If you require any further information about your child’s progress, please contact their Head of Year.