Assessment and Reporting
Assessment and reporting are integral aspects of the educational journey, ensuring that students' learning is comprehensively evaluated, feedback is thoughtfully delivered, and progress is effectively communicated to students, parents or guardians, and other stakeholders.
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.
- 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, punctuation and grammar) and numeracy tests for students in Years 3 and 5. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) holds the tests in May each year. Results and student reports are released in August.
- Validation of Assessment for Learning and Individual Development (VALID) – online diagnostic science assessment for students in Year 6.
- Some students may elect to sit the opportunity class or selective high school placement tests. For more information, visit selective high schools and opportunity classes.
At Woollahra Public School, we provide detailed information to students about what we expect from them throughout the year and how their work will be assessed. Our teachers use a variety of strategies to assess student learning. These include:
Formative assessments occur throughout the learning process and are used to inform teaching and learning. These assessments help teachers gauge student understanding, identify areas for improvement, and adjust instruction accordingly.
Diagnostic assessments are administered at the beginning of a course or unit to identify students' prior knowledge, strengths, and areas of weakness. This information guides instructional planning and differentiation.
Summative assessments are typically administered at the end of a unit, semester, or school year to evaluate what students have learned. They are often high-stakes assessments, such as final exams, standardized tests, or major projects. Teachers regularly observe students in various learning contexts. These observations help assess student engagement, behaviour, and social-emotional development. Observations can also inform differentiated instruction.
We encourage students to be involved in the learning process through self-assessment and peer assessment. Encouraging students to assess their own work and provide feedback to peers fosters metacognition and promotes a deeper understanding of their own learning process.
In addition, students have a number of formal assessments throughout their schooling. These include: · Best Start – a mandatory, one-to-one assessment that identifies a student’s literacy and numeracy skills at the beginning of Kindergarten.
Year 1 Phonics Screening Check - The Year 1 Phonics Screening Check is a short assessment that tells teachers how students are progressing in phonics. Teachers analyse the results and, if necessary, plan for any additional support that students might require by targeting teaching aligned with NSW English syllabus outcomes. · National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) – reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, punctuation and grammar) and numeracy tests for students in Years 3 and 5. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) holds the tests in May each year. Results and student reports are released in August.
Check-in Assessment – Check-in assessments are online assessments for students in Years 3-9. They are mapped to the NSW Syllabuses and National Literacy and Numeracy Learning progressions. All students complete a reading assessment and a numeracy assessment. Year 6 students also complete a writing task (Semester 2 only). · Validation of Assessment for Learning and Individual Development (VALID) – online diagnostic science assessment for students in Year 6.
Some students may elect to sit the opportunity class or selective high school placement tests. For more information, visit selective high schools and opportunity classes.
Reporting:
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.
Parent-teacher conferences are an integral part of the reporting process. We encourage parents or guardians to meet with teachers to discuss their child's progress. These conferences provide opportunities for personalized feedback and goal setting.