Assessment

At The Prescot School, our assessment strategy has been revitalised and relaunched as Assessment for Learning (AFL). This ensures that assessment is woven into everyday classroom practice and aligned with our Adaptive Teaching strategies. Our approach recognises that assessment is not an event but an ongoing process: a continuous cycle of checking understanding, responding to need, and using feedback to move learning forward.

Although these changes are at an early stage of implementation, we are already seeing a significant shift in how assessment is being used to inform teaching and improve outcomes.

Low-Stakes Formative Assessment Embedded Across the Curriculum

Across all subjects, we now regularly check how well students are understanding their learning through simple, low-pressure activities such as short quizzes, quick questions in lessons, and class check-ins. These are not formal tests, but opportunities for teachers to see what students have understood and where they may need extra support.

This approach allows teachers to quickly address any misunderstandings and adapt their teaching so that every child can succeed. It also helps build students’ confidence, as they receive regular feedback and support along the way.

Educational research shows that these types of regular checks can make a real difference. Schools that use this approach well often see improved progress, helping students to achieve more and reducing gaps between learners.

Bespoke Summative Assessment, Designed by Subject Experts

At key points in the year, students complete assessments that are carefully designed to match exactly what they have been taught in each subject. These assessments have been developed by subject leaders to ensure they are meaningful, fair, and relevant.

The results give teachers a clear picture of how well students are understanding their learning. This helps us to celebrate strengths, identify any gaps, and plan the next steps to support each child.

By combining these assessments with the regular checks that happen in lessons, we build a complete understanding of each student’s progress. This allows us to provide the right support at the right time, helping every student to succeed.

A Robust Tracking System That Supports Progress for All Students

We carefully track how well students are progressing using both our in-lesson checks and more formal assessments. This means we now have a clearer and more responsive understanding of how each child is doing.

In every subject, assessment activities are designed so that all students can access them, while still being appropriately challenging. This helps teachers quickly spot any misunderstandings and provide the right support, whether that’s during lessons or through additional help where needed.

Our approach ensures that every assessment has a clear purpose – helping us understand what students already know, where they may need more support, and how we can best challenge them moving forward. This allows us to give each student the right level of support and help them make the best possible progress.

Adaptive Teaching: Assessment at the Heart of Responsive Instruction

At The Prescot School, teachers regularly check how students are learning during lessons and use this information straight away to adapt their teaching. This means all students, including those who may need extra support, are given the right level of challenge and help to succeed.

Our approach ensures that learning is flexible and responsive, so every child can access ambitious, high-quality lessons. By continuously checking understanding and adjusting teaching, we create an inclusive learning environment where all students can make strong progress.

In the Day Interventions Enhancing the Curriculum Offer

We provide extra support for students during the school day through a range of targeted interventions. These include small group sessions and specialist support in key subjects such as English, maths and science.

These sessions take place during the school day and are closely linked to what students are learning in class. This means any support is timely, focused, and helps students to keep up, build confidence, and make strong progress.

Our aim is to ensure that every child gets the help they need, at the right time, so they can succeed in their learning.

Adaptive Teaching: Assessment at the Heart of Responsive Instruction

At The Prescot School, teachers regularly check how students are understanding their learning and use this information straight away to adapt their teaching.

This means all students, including those who may need extra support, are fully supported while still being challenged to achieve their best. Our approach helps ensure that every child can access high-quality learning and make strong progress.

High-Impact Feedback That Closes the Loop

As part of improving our assessments, we have also strengthened how we give feedback to students. We make sure that feedback is clear, helpful, and leads to real improvements in students’ work.

Students are given time and support to act on feedback, whether this is through whole-class feedback, teacher conversations, written comments, or opportunities to improve and redraft their work. This helps them understand exactly what they need to do next to progress in their learning.

Our aim is to make feedback meaningful and part of the learning process, so every child knows how to improve and feels supported every step of the way.

Sustained CPD Ensuring Consistency and Excellence

To make sure this approach is used consistently across the school, we regularly provide training and support for our staff. This helps teachers continue to develop the skills needed to deliver high-quality teaching, assessment and feedback.

Our staff work together to share best practice and ensure that all students benefit from the same high standards in every subject. This means your child will experience a consistent and supportive approach to learning across the school.

Our focus is on continuous improvement, so we can provide the best possible education and support for every student.