Assessment Vision

We believe in the statement that all forms of assessment should be used to improve teaching and learning.

"In lessons, staff have a variety of methods to check what pupils know and understand. They give pupils time to think and discuss their ideas. They pick any misconceptions up quickly and address them swiftly, thus preventing further misunderstanding." OFSTED 2023

At Steyning, we believe that the best forms of assessment result from ongoing dialogue and interactions with children. Daily interactions are what provide the soundest judgements of pupil progress and are what should inform planning and teaching. We recognise that progress in learning is not linear and therefore children should not be judged solely on the basis of a test. 

Where data is gathered, it should also be used as a means to support those children who are underachieving or to extend the most able.

 We have agreed on the following principles as the basis of our assessment system:

• All forms of assessment should be used to improve teaching and learning
• It is simple to use and understand
• Testing should be rigorous and reliable
• It is underpinned by a secure knowledge of the curriculum
• It informs planning and effective delivery of the curriculum
• It helps a child to recognise the next steps in their learning
• There is no unnecessary paperwork that does not contribute to teaching and learning
• It provides reliable information to parents about how their child is doing
• It ensures that Steyning CofE Primary school is keeping up with external best practice