Assessment

At Tavistock College we believe that effective assessment is at the heart of excellent teaching and learning. Assessment helps us understand what students know, what they can do, and how we can help them make further progress. 

Below is an overview of how we use assessment across all key stages: 

Formative assessment (ongoing assessment in lessons)

At Tavistock College we use frequent formative assessment to check understanding and embed knowledge. This includes: 

• Targeted questioning and retrieval activities 
• Low-stakes quizzes and whole-class whiteboard responses 
• Extended writing tasks 
• Peer and self-assessment 

Teachers use this information to identify any gaps in learning and adapt their teaching. Feedback may be given immediately in the lesson (‘live marking’) or later, for example through written comments or whole-class feedback. 

We focus on high-quality feedback that clearly shows students how to improve. 

Summative assessment (formal assessments and progress tracking)

At Tavistock College we carry out regular summative assessments to track progress over time: 

• Key Stage 3: 
  Students complete three assessment cycles each year (approximately every ten weeks). Assessments are standardised within each subject to ensure fairness. In practical subjects, students receive a descriptor ranging from Emerging to Excelling. 
• Key Stage 4: 
  In Year 10, there are two main assessment windows. In Year 11, students complete two formal mock exams under exam conditions. These help prepare students for their final GCSEs and provide accurate predicted grades. 
• Key Stage 5: 
  Sixth Form students receive a target grade based on their GCSE results. Teachers provide a working level and a forecasted predicted grade twice a year, based on assessments and exam-board materials. 

At every stage, assessments are moderated within departments to ensure consistency and reliability.

Reporting to families and students

At Tavistock College we share assessment information regularly with parents and carers. Reports include: 

• Target grades and current performance 
• Predicted grades (fine-graded to indicate security within a grade) 
  • A “+” means the grade is secure and there is potential to move up 
  • A “–” means the grade is less secure 
• Attitudes to Learning and Independent Work, graded as: 
  • E = Excellent 
  • G = Good 
  • N = Needs Improving 
  • C = Cause for Concern 
• At Sixth Form, attendance comments are also included 

We also hold progress evenings and information events to discuss progress and answer any questions. 

Curriculum depth and reteach weeks

After each KS3 assessment window, we have dedicated time for: 

• Curriculum Depth: exploring links between topics and wider cultural or ethical issues 
• Reteach Weeks: revisiting key concepts and addressing misconceptions identified in assessments 

Revisiting of key concepts and addressing misconceptions identified in assessments also takes place after KS4 and KS5 assessments. 

Our Commitment 

At Tavistock College we are committed to using assessment to: 

• Inform lesson planning 
• Help every student understand their strengths and next steps 
• Support students to meet or exceed their target grades 
• Communicate progress clearly to families.