Assessments
Our teachers use a variety of strategies to assess each student's work. This includes observing their work in class and looking closely at the work they produce.
We provide detailed information to students about what we expect from them throughout the year and how their work will be assessed. Students have a number of formal assessments throughout their schooling.
- Best Start – a mandatory, one-to-one assessment that identifies a student’s literacy and numeracy skills at the beginning of Kindergarten.
- National Assessment Program – Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) – reading, writing, language conventions (spelling, punctuation and grammar) and numeracy tests for students in Years 3 and 5. The Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) holds the tests in May each year. Results and student reports are released in August.
- Some students may elect to sit the opportunity class or selective high school placement tests. For more information, visit selective high schools and opportunity classes.
Reports
Teachers formally report on a student’s achievement based on the outcomes described in the syllabus of each subject. A written report using the Plain English achievement scale is sent home in the first half of the year, at the end of Term 2, and again in Term 4.
Reports contain the following information about the standards used to determine student attainment.
Assessment of achievement
At Parramatta North Public School, the Plain English achievement scale is used. This helps parents better understand their child’s progress by using clear, accessible language.
Stage 1 - Stage 3 (Years 1- 6)
Outstanding: Your child's achievement in this subject is outstanding. They confidently apply their knowledge and skills in a range of new and complex situations.
High: Your child's achievement in this subject is high. They confidently apply their knowledge and skills in a range of familiar and new situations.
Expected: Your child's achievement in this subject is at the expected standard. They apply their knowledge and skills in familiar situations.
Basic: Your child's achievement in this subject is basic. They apply their knowledge and skills in familiar situations with support
Limited: Your child's achievement in this subject is limited. They apply their knowledge and skills in some familiar situations with significant support.
Early Stage One (kindergarten)
The Plain English achievement scales are not used in kindergarten reports. Teachers provide written comments for each key learning area describing student achievement in relation to syllabus expectations.
Assessment of effort
At Parramatta North Public School, the following scale is used to report on student effort.
High: Your child actively participates and engages in most learning activities. They always try to complete and present work to a high standard.
Satisfactory: Your child actively participates and engages in most learning activities. They regularly try to complete and present work to the required standard.
Low: Your child sometimes participates and engages in learning activities. They occasionally try to complete and present work to the required standard.
Parent-teacher interviews
Parents are provided with a formal opportunity to discuss their child's progress at a parent-teacher interview. These occur in Term 1 and Term 3.
If you have any concerns, please make an appointment through contacting the school office.
If you need an interpreter, ask us to call the interpreter service on 13 14 50. This service is free.