At Guiseley School we operate assessment cycles. These are fixed points in our school calendar where we will assess how well the students have understood and remembered the curriculum. After these assessment cycles we will report to parents and carers how the students have done on the assessments. In all year groups we report on a student’s ATL grade and their attendance.
What you will find in your child’s report
ATL Grade
This number is taken as an average from all the lessons your child has attended for a particular subject. Four indicates an exemplary attitude. The full descriptors can be found in your child’s planner. The ATL grade per subject is also shown on the report to give a clear indication on the attitude to learning in each subject area.
Awards, Postcards and Sanctions
The report will indicate how many achievement points and behaviour points your child has received and will also show which of the four postcards linked to our core values they have been sent. When they receive a postcard for all four core values, they will receive a school crest.
Attendance information
There is a clear link between poor attendance and lower academic achievement, so at Guiseley we report on absence from school. Chronic absenteeism or missing 10 per cent or more of school days for any reason, excused or unexcused; is a proven early warning sign of academic risk and school dropout.
The reports also indicate the percentage attendance for each subject which will give a clear indication if absence is impacting upon particular subject areas.
Assessment
In Key Stage 3 (Years 7 to 9), we provide regular updates on how your child is progressing in each subject. Their progress is measured against their starting point, based on their Key Stage 2 SATs scores, which help us to set realistic expectations for what they can achieve in their assessments.
For more practical subjects like Art, Design Technology, Drama, Music, and PE, we also include a Practical Skill Grade. This gives you an overview of how well your child is developing their practical abilities in these areas. An explanation of these grades and what they mean is included below to help you better understand your child’s progress.
| 5 | Demonstrate most core skills/ techniques with proficiency, control, accuracy, fluency, consistency and creativity. Demonstrating confidence, independence and ambition. |
| 4 | Demonstrate a range of core skills/ techniques with proficiency, control, accuracy, fluency and consistency. Demonstrating confidence and some independence. |
| 3 | Demonstrates a range core skills/ techniques with some control, accuracy, fluency, consistency and some confidence. |
| 2 | Demonstrate some core skills/ techniques with some control, accuracy and consistency. |
| 1 | Demonstrate a limited number of core skills/ techniques with limited control, accuracy and consistency. |
Assessment in Key Stage 4 (Years 10 and 11)
During Key Stage 4, we report your child’s current progress based on their performance in end-of-cycle assessments using the GCSE grading system (9-1). You can track how well they are doing by comparing their current grades to their target grades. Target grades are based on Key Stage 2 SATs scores and represent the minimum grades they should aim to achieve, they are not a prediction of what they will achieve.
Vocational Courses at KS4
In addition to GCSEs, we offer a range of vocational courses. These are practical, work-related qualifications designed to provide students with skills and knowledge linked to specific careers or trades. At Guiseley School, we offer two types of vocational qualifications at this level:
- OCR National Certificate Level 2
- WJEC Level 2
These courses are ideal for students who prefer hands-on learning and applied education. Vocational grades are equivalent to GCSE grades, making them just as valuable for future opportunities.
Grades for vocational courses are equivalent to GCSE grades as shown below:
| Vocational grade | GCSE Grade |
|---|---|
| 2D* | 8.5 |
| 2D | 7 |
| 2M | 5.5 |
| 2P | 4 |
| 1D | 3 |
| 1M | 2 |
| 1P | 1.25 |
In KS4 (Years 10 and 11) we will report how students have achieved in the end of cycle assessment using grades. At GCSE this is the 9-1 system.
Vocational Courses
Alongside GCSE subjects we also offer several vocational courses. These are work-related qualifications and are designed to enable the learner to acquire knowledge and skills that meet recognised standards necessary to perform a particular job or trade. At Guiseley School we offer students two types of these qualifications at KS4, OCR National Certificate Level 2 and WJEC Levels 2. These are qualifications designed for those who want to continue their education through applied learning. Grades for vocational courses are equivalent to GCSE grades as shown below:
| CNAT Grade | GCSE Grade |
|---|---|
| 2D* | 8.5 |
| 2D | 7 |
| 2M | 5.5 |
| 2P | 4 |
| 1D | 3 |
| 1M | 2 |
| 1P | 1.25 |
Assessment in Key Stage 5 (Years 12 and 13)
In Key Stage 5, we also report student progress based on end-of-cycle assessments. Grades will depend on the type of qualification your child is taking. Along with current grades, we provide a projected grade, which indicates what your child is likely to achieve if they continue their current level of effort and performance up to their final exams in Year 13.
| A-Level Grade | UCAS points |
|---|---|
| A* | 56 |
| A | 48 |
| B | 40 |
| C | 32 |
| D | 24 |
| E | 16 |
Vocational Courses at KS5
For students interested in applied learning, we offer several practical courses alongside A-Levels. These include:
- OCR Technical Level 3
- WJEC Level 3
These qualifications allow students to develop skills and knowledge through real-world contexts, preparing them for further education or career paths. Vocational grades at this level are equivalent to A-Level grades and are highly valued by universities and employers alike.
| Vocational Grade | UCAS points |
|---|---|
| D* | 56 |
| D | 48 |
| M | 32 |
| P | 16 |
| Criminology Grade | UCAS points |
|---|---|
| A* | 56 |
| A | 48 |
| B | 40 |
| C | 32 |
| D | 24 |
| E | 16 |
In KS5 (Years 12 and 13) we will report how students have achieved in the end of cycle assessment using grades. The grades that we will use are set out below dependant on what qualification is taken. We will also provide a projected grade at KS5. This is a grade which indicates what a student may achieve if they continue to work in same way between the assessment point and their final examination at the end of Year 13.
| A-Level Grade | UCAS points |
|---|---|
| A* | 56 |
| A | 48 |
| B | 40 |
| C | 32 |
| D | 24 |
| E | 16 |
Vocational Courses
Alongside A-Level subjects we also offer several applied courses. These are qualifications that are designed to enable the learner to acquire knowledge and skills through purposeful contexts linked to more practical situations. At Guiseley School we offer students two types of these qualifications, OCR Technical Level 3 and WJEC Level 3. These qualifications are designed for those who want to continue their education through applied learning. Grades for vocational courses are equivalent to A-Level grades as shown below:
| CTEC Grade | UCAS points |
|---|---|
| D* | 56 |
| D | 48 |
| M | 32 |
| P | 16 |
| Criminology Grade | UCAS points |
|---|---|
| A* | 56 |
| A | 48 |
| B | 40 |
| C | 32 |
| D | 24 |
| E | 16 |
For further information
As always, the best place to get more detailed information is to attend one of our academic parents’ evenings, where our teachers will be able to talk through in more detail on how your child is doing and importantly, what they need to do next to make further progress.
Should you wish to discuss anything regarding your child’s general progress at school then contact your child’s Pastoral Leader. If your query is about a specific subject, then contact either your child’s class teacher or the Curriculum Leader for the subject.