Key Stage 3 Annual Report
From 1st October 2009 it is statutory for post-primary schools to report pupils’ progress and achievements to parents in accordance with The Education (Pupil Reporting) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2009. These regulations revoke and supersede all other reporting provisions.
Key Stage 3 Annual Report Guidance
Schools are required to report annually to parents by the 30th June. The Annual Report must be signed by the principal and provide the name of the school.
Content of the Annual Report
Schools are required to provide parents with an assessment of their child's progress in relation to:
- Communication (taking into account their achievement in the Language and Literacy area of learning);
- Using Mathematics (taking into account of their achievement in the Mathematics and Numeracy area of learning);
- Brief particulars of the pupils' achievement in any other area of learning or activity which forms part of his/her curriculum including:
- Using Information and Communications Technology
- Other Skills - Managing Information, Thinking Problem Solving and Decision Making, Being Creative, Working with Others and Self-Management.
- The Arts
- Environment and Society
- Learning for Life and Work
- Modern Languages
- Physical Education
- Science and Technology
- RE (optional)
The report should also include information about the pupil's interests and strengths, and focus for development and may contain further optional content such as outcomes from class tests. Where a pupil receives a qualification, award or certificate, including credit towards a qualification, this must be included in the report.
Report Formats
Schools have the flexibility to produce their own reporting formats, but should ensure that they report consistently in accordance with the requirements of the legislation. Schools have the option of using an electronic reporting writing tool and may choose to use comment banks which have been prepared to support the Northern Ireland Curriculum.
Reporting at the End of Key Stage 3
The reporting regulations also require schools to provide parents of pupils in the final year of Key Stage 3 with the Levels of Progression their child has achieved in the Cross-Curricular Skills (Communication, Using Mathematics and Using ICT) in which a pupil has been assessed and additional information on levels achieved by pupils in the school.
There is no requirement for schools to report using Levels of Progression in 2009/2010. However, schools are required to continue to assess pupils against the existing end of key stage level descriptions for Language and Literacy (English and/or Irish as appropriate in Irish-Medium schools) and Mathematics and Numeracy (Mathematics).
At the end of Key Stage 3 schools are required to provide additional information to parents. This includes:
- a statement of the level of progression expected for a pupil at the end of Key Stage 3 in each cross-curricular skill;
- a statement of the percentage of pupils in the final year of Key Stage 3 in the school:
- attaining each level in that cross-curricular skill;
- attaining the expected level or above in that cross-curricular skill;
- working towards the level expected for a pupil at the end of Key Stage 3;
- exempted from assessment in that cross-curricular skill.
Annual Report Templates
To assist with your planning for reporting to parents in 2009/2010 three templates have been produced for discussion and use within your school. The templates are based on meeting the statutory reporting requirements for Key Stage 3. They illustrate possible approaches to reporting within a Northern Ireland Curriculum context and reflect the statutory requirements for assessment.
In each template, reporting takes place in the following areas:
- Areas of Learning (including Learning for Life and Work);
- Cross-Curricular Skills (Communication, Using Mathematics and Using ICT); and
- Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities.
Annual Report Template 1
This report format could be used for pupils in Years 8 and 9 and illustrates reporting against the minimum requirements of the reporting regulations.
In this report the Cross-Curricular Skills of Communication and Using Mathematics are addressed through the Areas of Learning of English (including Media Education) and Mathematics (including Financial Capability). Reporting on the Other Skills (Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities) is incorporated into the Areas of Learning. Each Area of Learning would contribute to reporting on at least one of the Other Skills. Reference to the focus for development might be made within each Area of Learning and the Form Tutor might comment on the pupil’s interests and strengths.
Template 1DOC, 68 KB
Annual Report Template 2
This report format could also be used for pupils in Years 8 and 9. It shows how a school might report using optional content and includes other curriculum subjects such as additional languages.
This format includes options for reporting in English (including Media Education) and Mathematics (including Financial Capability) separately from the Cross-Curricular Skills of Communication and using Mathematics. It also includes Religious Education. Reporting on the Other Skills (Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities) is incorporated into the Areas of Learning. Each Area of Learning could contribute to reporting on at least one of the Other Skills. Reference to the pupil’s strengths and interests and focus for development might be made by the Form Tutor. The Head of Year comment is optional.
Template 2DOC, 79 KB