Controlled Assessment Policy

Transcription

1 Controlled Assessment Policy REVIEWED: April 2016 NEXT REVIEWED: April 2017 Approved by Governing Body: School Performance & Improvement Committee: 26/4/2016 1

2 September 2015 Controlled Assessment Policy INTRODUCTION As part of the government s reform of teaching, GCSEs have been revised to offer significant new opportunities for enhanced teaching and learning. These raise issues that need understanding and careful planning: Controlled Assessment Terminal Assessment Unitisation Controlled assessment is internal assessment and replaces coursework in GCSEs. It is used for those aspects of a subject which cannot be readily assessed by an external examination. All GCSE subjects are in one of three categories: Subjects with 60% controlled assessment Subjects with 25% controlled assessment Subjects with no controlled assessment (assessed entirely by external examinations). Teachers and Heads of Department will need to plan for controlled assessment as part of teaching and learning, and the overall strategy will be managed and supported by SLT and the Examinations Officer. PRINCIPLES This policy is aimed at ensuring controlled assessments are managed, planned and co-ordinated. The new requirements will put extra and different demands on everyone involved and a centre wide approach is therefore necessary to ensure a smooth and maximised opportunity for all our learners. To ensure a smooth process it is important that: Learners and parents are informed prior to any assessment No clashes occur with other assessments or calendared events Learning overload is avoided Staff absence is catered for Levels of control are monitored internally. It is important to ensure that all those affected by the developments know what procedures to follow and the reasons for them. Staff, learners and parents need to understand the issues involved in unitised and controlled assessment. Heads of Department need to be fully aware of the stages and levels of control including: Task setting Task taking Task marking. The levels of control (high, medium, low) determine who sets the assessment, the conditions for carrying out the assessment and who marks the assessment. Heads of Department should contact awarding organisation specifications to find out the detail of each controlled assessment and how controls are applied. 2

3 Re-sits Resitting controlled assessments is technically possible, but presents significant manageability issues for the school. For the revised GCSEs, units can be retaken once, and normally the better result counts towards the overall grade. Terminal Assessment Rule At least 40% of the assessment (which could include controlled assessment and external examinations) must be taken at the end of the course. The end of the course is the examination series in which the qualification is certified (when the units are cashed in for the qualification to be awarded). Unitisation Awarding bodies have increased the number of unitised GCSEs available. Many of the new GCSEs are divided into units which are separately assessed. Typically, there are four units in a single award GCSE, eight in a double award and 2 in a short course GCSE. Cash-in refers to the necessity to claim overall course grades. Marks can be cashed-in after controlled assessments or at the end of the course. If a student s marks are not cashed-in an overall grade will not be awarded. Unitised or Linear Assessment Heads of Department will make decisions on the most appropriate style of assessment taking account of the options available and the best provision for all learners. Timing of Assessment Timing of controlled assessments across different subjects needs to be co-ordinated so that, for example, assessments do not clash with each other or with events and activities on the school calendar. It is important that assessments are planned for and included in schemes of work, to allow a timetable to be created at the start of the year. This timetable will be as flexible as necessary but will give priority to assessments that are booked. This timetable will be used to support the accuracy of assessment, staff absence and arrangements as necessary. At the start of the academic year a calendar will be produced of all controlled assessments throughout the year. The Heads of Department will inform the Examinations Officer of the date, time and activity that will take place and all relevant detail known at the time by completing the application form. The Exams Officer will contact the Head of Department two weeks prior to the calendared assessment to confirm arrangements. Heads of Department can move the date and time arranged forwards or backwards giving a valid reason and updating the current or completing a new application form. New arrangements will have to fit around all school calendared arrangements. Selection of awarding organisations and specifications It is important that awarding organisations and specifications are researched in detail to offer the most appropriate course that offers the greatest opportunity for success. Information on deadlines for estimated grades and forecast grades as well as deadlines for submitting marks for internal assessment all need to be fully considered and followed. 3

4 Impact on Planning and Timetabling For unitised assessments students will be able to sit individual units in the January or June series. However, the majority of units will only be available in the June series and at least 40% of the assessment must be taken at the end of the course (40% terminal assessment rule). There are limited assessment opportunities available in the November or March examination series. A student may re-sit each unit only once. The better grade achieved will normally count. However, if a re-sit is taken during the terminal assessment, this terminal result must be used, even if it is lower. For controlled assessments it is important that schemes of work address the need for assessment. The minimum number of assessments to answer the course criteria and the planned amount of assessments to be undertaken should be clearly indicated in schemes of work with planned dates. This information should be passes to the Examinations Officer at the start of the year. Involvement of learners in making decisions where choices are offered It is important that, where appropriate, learners are consulted on cashing in and re-sitting assessments. All opportunities and considerations need to be fully explained to learners in these situations. Cashing in options need to be made clear as does the percentage of controlled assessment. PROCEDURES Senior Leadership Team The SLT has overall responsibility for ensuring controlled assessments operate successfully, which involves: Establishing school policy on controlled assessments Assigning responsibility to specific members of staff Ensuring all staff understand their roles and responsibilities Dealing with issues arising i.e. timetable clashes Monitoring the operation of controlled assessments Consulting with subject departments Making periodic reports to the SLT (Controlled Assessment Co-Ordinator) Creating, publishing and updating an internal appeals policy. Heads of Department Every subject department will need to: Select awarding organisation and GCSE specifications Decide on timings of assessment to meet requirements of terminal assessment ensuring at least 40% of overall assessment is taken in the exam series in which the qualification is certified. Inform the Examinations Officer at the start of the year of when assessments will take place, with a completed application form, how many there will be and what the minimum number stipulated on the course is by completing the application form (Appendix 1). Complete a Record of Assessment Form (Appendix 2) on completion of the assessment and return to the Examinations Officer as soon as possible. 4

5 Inform parents prior to assessment of the full arrangements and expectations. Use assessment results as part of reporting to parents. Arrange internal standardisation of marking by all teachers involved in internal assessment. Ensure all teachers understand their roles and responsibilities in controlled assessments. Ensure all teachers are familiar with the requirements of the specification through departmental meetings and professional development. Ensure schemes of work incorporate controlled assessment appropriately. Where appropriate, develop new assessment tasks to meet local circumstances, in line with awarding body specifications. Understand and comply with the general guidelines contained in the JCQ publication Instructions for conducting controlled assessments. Consult with ALENCO on additional arrangements for particular candidates. Make contingency arrangements for the event of absences by candidates or teachers. Arrange for secure storage of candidates work. Provide information as necessary to the Exams Officer (unit codes, dates of assessment, cash-in arrangements). Forward cash-in information to the Exams Officer for the terminal exam series. Book facilities, resources and any special requirements needed for controlled assessments via the Examinations Officer. Obtain materials and tasks set by the awarding organisation. Supervise assessment, applying specified levels of control, and ensuring authentication forms are signed by candidates and the supervising teachers. Exams Officer The Exams Officer will: Liaise as necessary with the SLT, Heads of Department and teachers. Create a centre wide calendar of assessments. Enter students for individual units, including controlled assessment units and externally assessed units. Enter student cash-in codes for the terminal exam series as instructed by Heads of Department. Be responsible for storage and transmission of information, data and confidential materials between awarding organisations and teachers. Contact Heads of Department two weeks prior to the planned assessment to confirm/change arrangements. 5

6 Ensure all necessary accommodation, facilities and equipment are available and in place for controlled assessment tasks. Arrange all special access arrangements as appropriate. Resolve timetable clashes for accommodation and facilities. INTERNAL APPEALS PROCEDURE In the event of an enquiry or complaint all correspondence should be made through the Head of Department who will liaise with the Examinations Officer. FURTHER INFORMATION For all individual course information relating to Controlled Assessments please refer to the course specification. If Heads of Department require details of how a unitised GCSE specification compares with previous linear specifications, they should visit awarding body websites. MONITORING ARRANGEMENTS An annual report from the Controlled Assessment Co-Ordinator will be made to SLT. Regular meetings will take place between the Exams Officer and the co-ordinator. The Exams Officer will ensure that all of the correct forms are completed by Heads of Department and will make contact two weeks prior to every assessment to confirm arrangements. The SLT will monitor arrangements by observing classes undergoing a controlled assessment. 6

7 Centre Action Plan Senior Leadership Team Assistant Head (C.A. Co- Ordinator) September Agree Policy Policy Written Consult with Subject Leaders October November Heads of Department Nominate Dates for Assessments Departmental meetings on controlled assessments. Identify all arrangements. Exam Office Staff Collect dates for assessments and create timetable. Resolve clashes and secure arrangements. Collect and submit entry data. Book rooms for assessments. Site and Admin Staff. December January February March April May June July August Review policy Complete all internal and assessment and standardisation. Compile report for SLT. Start controlled assessments. Complete all controlled assessments. Collect and submit marks. Sort equipment 7

8 Appendix 1 Controlled Assessment Application Form Details and General Overview. To be completed at the start of the academic year and subject to date change at the request of the Head of Department. You should refer to your subject specification and the JCQ Instructions for Conducting Controlled Assessments. Teacher in Charge: Subject: Unit code & Weighting: Classes: Names of Students including if possible those with Access Arrangements: Year of Submission: AB Set Task Electronic Y/N Word Count CD Y/N Printed Form Y/N Centre Set Tasks Y/N Minimum Number of Assessments according to the specification Storage details of task assessment material and students work. Time Limit No Date & Time Level of Control Assessment Task. Must be current for year of submission. Teaching Room Arrangements Confirmed Form 2 Sent Form 2 Returned 8

9 Appendix 2 Record of Controlled Assessment To be completed at the time of the assessment and returned to the Examinations Officer. Details Please Complete Date of Assessment Name of supervisor/s List of attendees/absentees attached Names of students who have Access Arrangements Start time Finish time Duration Relevant display material removed/covered Details of permitted resources Computer/memory stick/mobile phones checked. Electronic storage checked. Presentation: Written Black Ink Word Processed Y/N Y/N Other: Printouts/copies/charts/artefacts/photos/letters/videos recording or transcripts of interviews/witness statements from supervising teachers to record what a candidate has demonstrated: Details: Consent form given to students for this assessment. Record of help and guidance attached. Student diaries completed. Record of incidents attached. Exams Officer notified if any applications for Special consideration required. Candidate authentication forms completed. Centre declaration completed. Deadline for submission to the moderator. Deadline for submission of marks to the Awarding Body. If video/photographs/images are being used informed consent from parents/carers/guardians MUST be obtained (Subject Leaders). N.B. All Controlled Assessments must be retained securely at the centre until after the enquiries about results deadline in respect of the series of submission. 9

10 Candidate Authentication Form Controlled Assessments The work you submit for assessment must be your own. If you copy from someone else, allow another candidate to copy from you, or if you cheat in any other way, you may be disqualified from a least the subject concerned. Name:.. Subject:.. Candidate No:.. Unit Code:. Assessment Task:... Date:. Time:. Declaration by Candidate I have read and understood the Notice to Candidates. I have produced the attached work without assistance other than that which is acceptable under the scheme of assessment. Candidate s Signature: Date:.. Declaration by Teacher I confirm that: 1. The candidate s work was conducted under the conditions laid out by the specification; 2. I have authenticated the candidate s work and am satisfied that to the best of my knowledge the work produced is solely that of the candidate. Teacher s Name:.. Teacher s Signature:. Date: 10