At Holy Cross and All Saints RC Primary School, assessment is a vital part of our teaching and learning approach. It enables us to monitor pupil progress, identify areas for development, and ensure that every child is supported to achieve their full potential.

We use a combination of formative and summative assessments throughout the academic year. These include teacher assessments, standardised tests, and statutory national curriculum assessments at key stages.

Formative Assessment

Formative assessment is an ongoing process used by teachers to monitor pupil understanding and progress during lessons. It involves techniques such as questioning, observation, and feedback to identify learning needs and adapt teaching accordingly, ensuring that all pupils are supported to achieve their next steps.

Summative Assessment 

Summative assessment provides a measure of pupil achievement at a specific point in time, typically at the end of a unit, term, or key stage. It is used to evaluate learning outcomes against national standards and helps inform future planning, reporting, and school-wide performance monitoring.

Statutory Assessments

Pupils in Reception, Year 1, Year 2, Year 4, and Year 6 participate in national assessments as required by the Department for Education. These include:

• Reception Baseline Assessment (RBA): Conducted within the first six weeks of starting school, this assessment provides a starting point to measure progress throughout primary education.

• Year 1 Phonics Screening Check

• End of Key Stage 1 Assessments (Year 2)

• Multiplication Tables Check (Year 4)

• End of Key Stage 2 Assessments (Year 6 SATs)

These assessments help us understand how pupils are progressing in relation to national expectations and inform our planning and support strategies.

For further details, parents can refer to the following official resources:

We encourage all parents and carers to speak with their child’s class teacher if they have any questions about assessment procedures or their child’s progress.