assessment and grading · 2 | lauriston girls’ school assessment and grading student handbook a...

ASSESSMENT AND GRADING

STUDENT HANDBOOK

2 | LAURISTON GIRLS’ SCHOOL ASSESSMENT AND GRADING STUDENT HANDBOOK

A school for life.

Contents

The purpose of this document is to outline the procedures that are in place for assessment in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. Our beliefs about assessment:• Assessment is used ‘for’ learning, not just a reflection ‘of’ learning.• Assessment must be fair, rigorous and valid.• The information gathered from assessment must be used by teachers,

students and parents to assist in further learning.

3 General Questions

5 Responsibilities

5 Students

5 Teachers

6 Absences and Missed Work

6 Absence from an in-class assessment task

6 Missed due date of at-home assessment task

6 Consequences

7 Special Provisions

8 Clarification of Grades

9 Academic Honesty

9 What is meant by malpractice?

10 Grading and Feedback

12 Rubrics and Feedback

12 Reflection

13 Reporting

14 Appendix 1

15 Appendix 2

LAURISTON GIRLS’ SCHOOL ASSESSMENT AND GRADING STUDENT HANDBOOK | 3

A school for life.

General Questions

What are the types of assessment I will complete?In every course studied at Lauriston, a number of assessment

tasks will be undertaken by you throughout the year.

Assessment tasks fall into three broad categories:

• Diagnostic assessment (used to provide information

about your current understanding).

• Formative assessment (used during the process of

learning to measure your progress).

• Summative assessment (used at the conclusion of a

period of learning to capture your level of achievement).

For most units of work that you complete, you would be

expected to undertake one piece of diagnostic assessment,

several formative assessment tasks and at least one

summative assessment.

Assessment tasks will be varied, and it is expected that you

will complete a range of tasks over the year. These tasks may

include:

• Written reports

• Digital projects

• Oral reports

• Portfolios

• Visual tasks

• Research assignments

• Collaborative projects

• Learning reflections

• Performances

• Creation of a piece of art

How many assessment tasks will I complete?There is no set limit to the number of tasks that you will

complete during the year. In general, it would be expected

that you will complete at least one summative assessment per course, per semester.

Many courses will require you to complete more assessments

than this. The School tries to limit the number of summative

assessments to ensure that students have an adequate

amount of learning time.

How will I know when I have an assessment task?All assessment task will be provisionally noted in the course

outline you receive at the beginning of the year. These may

change due to alterations to the course and depend on when

teachers are able to get through the required content.

You will be notified at least two weeks prior to a summative

assessment to ensure that you have adequate time to prepare.

How will I know what to do in the assessment?When you are notified of the assessment, the teacher will go

through the rubric against which you will be assessed.

You will also be provided either digitally or on a handout with

instructions outlining the below:

• Title of the task.

• The unit/content area of the course to which the task

relates.

• The exact date and timing/time allocation for the task.

• Information specifying components of assessment used

in the task.

• The rubrics which will be used.

• Any equipment or materials you will need to complete

the task.

A standardised task notification sheet is included in this

booklet for your reference.


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Can I have more than one assessment task due the same day?We are developing a process to help ensure that you will not have a number of assessments on the same day; however, at times

this may be unavoidable.

If you are concerned about the number of assessments which you are required to undertake, please discuss this with your

teacher to see if the due date/assessment date can be altered.

Will all students taking the same subject complete the same assessment tasks?It is expected that all students complete the assessment tasks on the same date where possible. In some subjects, this cannot

be achieved because classes complete units at different times.

If there are multiple classes who are completing the same assessment, it is preferable that this takes place on a single day.

If the gap between assessment dates is too wide, different assessment tasks may be used to ensure that no students are

advantaged by the delay.

What should I do if I am absent from school and my class is advised of an assessment task?If you are absent when as assessment task has been given, it is important to see your teacher who will make time to discuss the

assessment with you and ensure that you have the required information.

What is the procedure for submitting assessment tasks?Tasks that are completed outside of class time must be submitted on the due date. A set time will be specified for the task to

be handed in, and this is usually during the class on that day, or the end of the school day.

All tasks completed at home require the included ‘Verification of Authenticity’ sheet to be completed. This document outlines

how the work you are handing in is your own and has not been the product of collusion or plagiarism (please see the section

on authenticity for more information on this).

Your teacher will advise you how they will accept your assessment task – either a physical copy or digitally. Each page of the

task should be named (if applicable), and it should be handed in in a presentable manner. In order to meet the due date, you

must ensure that you have met the submission requirements for the task.

What is the procedure for in-class assessment tasks?Unless the task being completed is collaborative, it is expected that you will work independently on the assessment task you

are completing in class. Your teacher will be monitoring the assessment for any indication that you are working with another

member of the class.

If you are permitted to bring materials into an assessment (notes, a text, a dictionary etc.) this will be checked by your teacher

to ensure that it meets the requirements which were set out prior to the assessment.

During the assessment, your teacher will ensure that you are made aware of the time that is remaining by either ensuring that

the clock in the classroom is accurate or by writing the time remaining on the whiteboard.

When your teacher asks you to stop working, you need to follow this instruction to ensure fairness to all students.


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Responsibilities

STUDENTSYou will:

• Ensure that you pay attention to the due dates of tasks.

• Accurately maintain your student diary with key dates.

• Initiate contact with teachers concerning absence from class, missed assessments, extension requests and other issues

pertaining to assessment. This contact must be made prior to the due date of any assessments.

• Ensure that you have read over the task requirements carefully and you understand the rubric which will be used to

measure your progress.

• Complete the required preparation in order to show your capability in the assessment task.

• Ensure that you act honestly when completing assessment tasks.

• Reflect upon your completed assessments and set goals for future learning.

• Ensure that you contact your teacher should you have any concerns regarding the assessment or if you require further

clarification.

TEACHERSYour teachers will:

• Ensure that you have adequate notice of when an assessment task is due.

• Provide clear guidelines regarding what is required for the assessment task.

• Discuss and outline the rubric that will be used to measure your achievement in the assessment task.

• Make it clear what revision you can do in advance of the assessment task.

• Support you with your preparation for the assessment task.

• Respond to queries and concerns that you raise regarding the assessment.

• Ensure that the assessment task is fair to all students.

• Provide you with timely feedback on your assessment task and what you can do to improve your performance in future

tasks.


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Absences and Missed WorkABSENCE FROM AN IN-CLASS ASSESSMENT TASKAt times, it will be unavoidable that you will miss an assessment task; this could be due to illness, a family emergency, or other

events out of your control.

If this is the case, you need to ensure that:

• You notify your teacher as soon as possible.

• A note or email is received from your parent/caregiver advising the reason why you were unable to attend the assessment.

• Arrangements are made regarding when you will be able to sit the assessment in the future.

Appointments, holidays, music lessons are not valid reasons to miss an assessment. As you will have been given two weeks

notice of the assessment, it is expected that you will have altered any appointments to ensure that you were able to sit the

assessment on the due date.

MISSED DUE DATE OF AT-HOME ASSESSMENT TASKIf for some reason, you have been unable to complete an assessment task by the due date, you will need to ensure that you

have:

• Notified the teacher before the due date that you will not be able to meet the deadline.

• Ensured that you have a note or email from a parent/caregiver advising why the due date has been missed.

• Arranged a new submission date with your teacher.

It is worth noting that rarely will an extension be given for an at-home task. Reasons that will not result in an extension include:

having a number of extra-curricular activities on, being away on holiday, forgetting to complete the work in advance of the due

date. Although it may be difficult to manage your time, you are expected to ensure that you have organised your time to allow

you to meet deadlines.

CONSEQUENCES OF NON-COMPLETION AND MISSED DUE DATESIf you do not meet the due date of a task, or fail to submit the task, you will not receive a grade for that work. In line with the

school grading policy, you will receive feedback on any work submitted, but not a grade to show how you have achieved.

This helps to ensure that no student who misses a deadline is advantaged.


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Special Provisions

Some students experience difficulty when demonstrating their learning and understanding because of a disability or learning

difficulty. This is a difficulty which is significant and interferes with her capacity to achieve in assessment, despite her

intelligence and capability.

In such cases, a student may be eligible for special assessment provisions. Generally, students eligible for special provisions will

have a diagnosed difficulty; this means an assessment by a psychologist, a speech pathologist, audiologist etc.

The school’s psychologist will then determine the appropriate provision. This means that teachers will assess girls who are

identified as having a disability or learning difficulty, under conditions which try to reduce the impact of the disability/difficulty.

For example, a girl who has a vision impairment may be given a test prepared in braille or enlarged print.

If you think you might qualify for special provisions, or if you think you have a learning difficulty which is yet to be understood

or identified, please talk to the school’s Psychologist, your Head of House, or the Individual Differences teacher.

Teachers are aware of students who have qualified for special assessment provisions, and they ensure students are assessed

with the appropriate provision

It may be that you qualify for some special provisions. If this is the case, you would have met with the Individual Differences

Teacher and been given information about how the assessment task may be different for you.

Teachers are made aware of how they are required to adapt a task to different learners – this may include giving extra time,

changing the language of the assessment, scaffolding tasks etc.

If you have any queries around special provisions, it is important to speak to your Head of House or the Individual Differences

Teacher.


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Clarification of GradesFrom time to time, you may find that you disagree with a grade that you have been given for a piece of work. In the first

instance, you need to discuss this with the teacher who has awarded you this grade. They will then provide you with the

rationale behind the decision and link the grade to the rubric that you have been assessed against. This must take place within

one week of receiving the grade.

If you still disagree with the grade that you have been given, you will then need to speak to the relevant Head of Faculty. At

this point, they will speak with the teacher concern and look over the work. The Head of Faculty will then provide to you

information about their decisions regarding the grade that you have received.

It is worth remembering that assessments are moderated before they are returned to you and, as such, rarely will the grade be

altered.


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Academic Honesty

Academic honesty involves taking responsibility for your own education, completing all work required of you on your own,

and contributing thoughtfully and fully to any group work assigned to you. In more straightforward terms, academic honesty

means not cheating on tests and not plagiarising.

WHAT IS MEANT BY MALPRACTICE?Malpractice is when you behave in a way that would give you an unfair advantage. This includes:

• Plagiarism: intentionally or unintentionally using another’s work or ideas and representing them as your own.

• Collusion: when you collaborate closely with someone without acknowledging their contribution.

• Falsification of information or data.

• Cheating in a test or examination.

In order to ensure fairness, the following are in place to encourage academic honesty:

• For assessments complete at home, you will need to sign a ‘Validation of Authenticity’ form.

• Teachers may ask to see draft copies of your work or may ask you questions about your process to verify authenticity.

• During in-class assessments, teachers will supervise you closely to ensure that you are working independently.

• ‘Turn-it In’ or other online services may be used to verify that work is your own.

If malpractice is suspected, the teacher, with the assistance of their Head of Faculty and the Deputy Principal – Learning and

Innovation, will carry out an investigation into the practice.

If it is concluded that malpractice has taken place, the assessment results will be invalid, and notification to your parents/

caregivers will occur to alert them to what has happened.


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Grading and FeedbackLauriston Girls’ School employs a developmental model of grading and reporting. This means that your progress is measured

in key skill and knowledge areas over the year with a focus on how you have improved.

This model is different from one where you receive a single grade for each task that you complete. By tracking your progress

over the year, it provides an opportunity to measure your growth and development.

By measuring your growth over the course of the year, it also allows us to understand better the areas with which you require

further support.

For each summative assessment task, you will receive a number grade for each of the criteria that have been measured – there

may be up to four criteria measured in a single assessment.

The numbers link to the below descriptors:

StageCommon Descriptors for Level of Competence

Level of Competence (Dreyfus and Dreyfus, 1980)

7 – 8 Excellent

With depth

With insight

Effective

Detailed

Consistent

Accurate

Well-supported

Complete

Thorough

Perceptive

Sophisticated

High degree

Extensive

Expert


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5 - 6 Substantial

Regular

Considerable

With detail

Mostly

Appropriate

Sufficient

Clear

General

Considerable

Competent

Competent/Proficient

3 – 4 Adequate

Occasional

With some guidance

Basic

Few

Satisfactory

Partial

Some

Simple

Advanced Beginner

1 - 2 Limited

Possible

Some

Poor

Few

Begins

Minimal

Novice


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RUBRICS AND FEEDBACKAt the end of each task, you will receive a rubric that clearly identifies the level of performance you demonstrated for the task.

This rubric will also include three comments about the skills/knowledge you demonstrated in completing the task and three

comments about what you need to do to improve.

By reading over the comments and the rubric carefully, you will be able to identify what you are required to do to improve.

REFLECTIONYou will be asked to reflect twice during the assessment process.

The first reflection is based on how well you think that you have performed in the assessment based on the rubric and what

you have produced. This is completed immediately after you have finished an assessment task.

The second reflection is based on the feedback that you have been provided by your teacher. This is intended to help you set

clear goals and next steps.

Both of these reflections will take place online using Schoolbox.


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Reporting

When you have completed an assessable task, you will be able to access your grade, feedback and a copy of the rubric through

Schoolbox by clicking on the ‘My Grades’ tab at the top of the screen.

Once you have completed your reflection, your parents/caregivers will also be able to see a copy of the rubric, the feedback

you have been given and your reflection.

At the end of each semester, a report is generated that focused on your development regarding each skill and knowledge area

over the term. This is then emailed home in the form of a PDF.

If your parents would like a copy of the report, they are able to request this from Student Services.


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Appendix 1

Validation of Authenticity Name: ___________________________________________ Subject: ___________________________________________ Teacher: ___________________________________________ Task: ___________________________________________ Due Date: ___________________________________________ The work that I have completed is my own. I have acknowledged all sources and contributions which I have accessed to complete this task. Signed: ___________________________________________


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Appendix 2

Notification of Assessment

Subject: ____________________________________ Year Level: ________________ Unit of Work: ______________________________________________________________ Description of Assessment: Date/time of Assessment: _____________________________________________________ Required equipment/further instructions: The rubric attached to this notification outlines the requirements of the task and how you will be assessed. It is important that you read this carefully to ensure that you fully understand the assessment you will be undertaking.

Lauriston Girls’ School

38 Huntingtower RoadArmadale VIC 3143 AustraliaCRICOS number 00152F ABN 15 004 264 402

t: +61 3 9864 7555 f: +61 3 9822 7950e: [email protected]

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