Principles of assessment and reporting

In schools and early years settings children's progress towards agreed targets is continually assessed.

Schools must demonstrate that pupils are achieving at an appropriate level (national curriculum levels for most pupils or P levels for children with additional needs). 

Schools use the Progression Guidance Document to compare pupils' progress against those with similar needs nationally. This helps set aspirational but realistic targets.

All pupils are assessed in English, maths and science, and the results are analysed by the local authority. Other subjects, known as foundation subjects, are assessed but are not analysed.

Data from the assessments at the end of each educational phase (reception, Y1, Y2, Y6, Y9, GCSEs, A Level) is used by the government to assess the education system and monitor regional and national variations. OfSTED also uses this data to evaluate the effectiveness of a school.

Teachers use a process called Assessment for Learning to find out:

• What a child can do
• What they are finding difficult
• How to support and challenge them to move forward in their learning.