School approaches
Our school uses a wide variety of assessment tools to support and inform Overall Teacher Judgements about each child's current learning and their next steps.The data we accumulate can also be used in summary reports to the Board about overall progress and to help them make sound governance decisions to support the excellent outcomes we seek to achieve for each student.
School brochure FAQs about these tests
National Standards
The curriculum standards are divided into a progression of National Standards benchmarks.
Attainment of the standard is not decided by test or a score but by teacher judgement using the set of benchmarks which teachers use to make .These judgements, (Overall Teacher Judgements or OTJs) also take day to day observations, book work and assessment results into account and will then indicate whether your child is below, at or above the standard relevant to their age.
These standards, introduced last year, have been described as "aspirational" with the intention of raising student achievement in English and Mathematics and are reported to you at that time when your child has achieved the following "anniversaries":
after one year at school
after two years at school
after three years at school
by the end of Y4
By the end of Y5
by the end of Y6
Teachers also report to parents on progress towards them after 6 months. Teachers will also discuss next learning steps to help your child's learning progress and ideas on how you might help at home.
Devonport School will report formally two times a year but parents are also welcome to make a time to discuss
their child' progress at any other time as well
Y4-6 reports will be issued in June/ July and December.
Y1-3 teachers will issue reports on the basis of the time the child has spent at school. For example, a child who starts school in June will get their first 6 month report in December and a first full year report in the following June. We hold interviews adjacent to the issue of the report and notify parents in advance of this.
Important message for parents
We support the assessment and learning principles behind National Standards (being clear about expectations and next steps, working for progress and engaging parents and students to work with us to improve student learning outcomes).
However we strongly recommend you look beyond the labels until issues of statistical reliability and moderation across schools nationwide.We are confident our reports deliver rich information and indicate our determination to move every child to higher ground.
More information on National Standards can be found at www. tki.govt.nz/ national standards