Curriculum and Assessment at The Skinners' Kent AcademyAssessment 2016-17
Key Stage 5 (Year 12 & 13)
All Year 12 & 13 students complete the International Baccalaureate Career-related Programme (IBCP). There are three assessed elements within the IBCP
Diploma Courses Diploma courses within the IBCP are assessed in accordance with rigorous international standards. Students take written examinations at the end of their courses, which are marked by external IB examiners. The grades awarded for each course range from 1 (lowest) to 7 (highest). In order to track the progress students are making, they are assessed termly and are graded between 1 and 7 including a nuance e/d/s (emerging/developing/secure) to highlight at what point within the grade the students have progressed to. Students are expected to make at least 3 nuances of progress each year. Each of the Diploma courses includes a percentage of internal assessment. Vocational Courses (Career-related Qualification) Details of the assessment of the career-related qualifications can be found via the subject links. All career-related qualifications are equivalent to a Level 3 qualification. As such they are appropriate for university entry or apprenticeships and they are recognised within their specific industries. IBCP Core Every CP student must complete the four elements of the CP core. These are:
The Reflective Project is assessed internally and externally moderated and graded by the IB. They are graded from A to E, with A being the highest. We are responsible for confirming with the IB that students have completed the requirements for Service Learning, Personal and Professional Skills and Language Development. These are assessed by the school. As with the Career-related Qualification, 3 nuances (3,2,1) of progress are expected each year. Key Stage 3 & 4 Assessment All students are assessed termly. For Years 9-11 we report both GCSE and MYP grades. In Years 7&8 we report MYP grades only. These grades are shared with parents/guardians and students six times a year. Middle Years Programme Assessment (Years 7-11) The International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme provides the framework for the curriculum at Skinners’ Kent Academy, throughout Years 7-11. It provides the academic challenge that encourages students to embrace and understand the connections between traditional subjects and the real world, and become critical and reflective thinkers. The programme:
The Learner Profile at the centre of the MYP identifies the attitudes and attributes that we are seeking to develop in Skinners’ Kent Academy students:
As an IB World school, we track and report students’ Middle Years Programme (MYP) progress according to specified assessment criteria that correspond to the objectives of each subject group. Teachers are responsible for structuring varied and valid MYP assessment tasks (including tests and examinations) that will allow students to demonstrate achievement according to the objectives for each subject group. MYP assessments can take many forms in order to satisfy the four criteria within their subject area. The recording and reporting of individual levels of achievement within the assessment criteria for each subject group occurs six times across the academic year. In Term 1 for Years 7, 8 & 10 all four criteria are assessed to produce a baseline for each criteria. In each of the following five terms two of the four criteria are focused on ensuring that each MYP criteria is assessed at least twice during the academic year. In Years 9 &11 two of the four criteria are assessed each term, again ensuring that all four criteria are assessed at least twice across the academic year. Each of the four criteria within each subject area are graded from 1 (lowest) to 8 (highest)
GCSE Assessment (Years 9-11) Year 11 In Year 11 students are preparing to complete the GCSE examinations and as such are assessed against GCSE criteria. Students take written examinations at the end of their courses and in some cases Controlled Assessments that contribute to their final grade. The termly grades awarded for each course range from A* - G along with a nuance of 1/2/3 to show where within the grade the students has progressed to. A nuance of 1 means the student is at the top end of the grade and is about to progress onto the next grade. A nuance of 2 means the students is consolidated within that grade and is looking to progress further within that grade. A nuance of 3 means that the student has just progressed into this grade and is looking to progress further within this grade. Year 10 In Year 10 students are also preparing for their GCSE examinations and are assessed against these criteria. Maths and English are then graded using the 1(lowest) – 9(highest) scale. All other subjects are assessed using the A*-G scale. There are two nuance systems for Year 10 students. In Maths & English where students are graded 1-9 there is a nuance system of e/d/s (emerging, developing, secure). A nuance of ‘s’ means the student is at the top end of the grade and is about to progress onto the next grade. A nuance of ‘d’ means the students is consolidated within that grade and is looking to progress further within that grade. A nuance of ‘e’ means that the student has just progressed into this grade and is looking to progress further within this grade. Year 9 In Year 9 students are also assessed against GCSE criteria. All subject areas are graded using the 1-9 grading system. Each subject uses the 1-9 grading system along with the e/d/s nuance system. As with Year 10 nuance of ‘s’ means the student is at the top end of the grade and is about to progress onto the next grade. A nuance of ‘d’ means the students is consolidated within that grade and is looking to progress further within that grade. A nuance of ‘e’ means that the student has just progressed into this grade and is looking to progress further within this grade. Evidencing Progress During the academic year parents will receive a termly report showing the progress of their sons/daughters. In order to show progress we have introduced nuances within A Level, IB Diploma, GCSE and MYP grades. In all areas students are expected to make at least 3 nuances of progress over the academic year. Nuances Explained A Level, letter represents the grade, number represents the nuance: 3- lower end of the grade e.g. B3 2- middle of the grade e.g. A2 1- higher end of the grade e.g. A1 IB Diploma Grading, number represents the grade, letter represents the nuance: e- Emerging (Lower end of the grade) e.g. 5e d- Developing (Middle of the grade) e.g. 6d s- Secure (Higher end of the grade, looking to move into the next and higher grade) e.g. 6s GCSE Grading, letter represents the grade, number represents the nuance: 3- lower end of the grade e.g. B3 2- middle of the grade e.g. A2 1- higher end of the grade e.g. A1 MYP Grading, M refers to MYP, number represents the MYP grade for the criterion being assessed, lowercase letter represents the nuance: e- Emerging (Lower end of the grade) e.g. M5e d- Developing (Middle of the grade) e.g. M6d s- Secure (Higher end of the grade, looking to move into the next and higher grade) e.g. M6s Future Developments From September 2016 Year 7&8 students will be assessed against GCSE criteria and will be graded using the 1-9 grading scale (and “working towards” GCSE assessment levels) alongside the MYP 1-8 grading scale. 
The Curriculum
The curriculum at the Skinners’ Kent Academy is broad, balanced and meets the requirements of the National Curriculum and the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme.
The Academy is committed to creating a curriculum that is personalised and enables a step-change in both learning and personal development. Learning opportunities, curriculum materials and the use of new technologies is innovative, and inclusive, so that students are motivated and excited about their learning and the future pathways they may take. The personalisation agenda will be fully embraced and all abilities are catered for. A culture of active participation is a key principle of the Academy and this is realised through the Enrichment programme. An extended and enriched curriculum provides opportunities for students to become involved in social entrepreneurial activities, enabling students to gain a greater understanding of, and provide a valuable service for, the local area and the people it serves. Good citizenship is nurtured, recognised, rewarded and celebrated throughout the curriculum and in particular supported through the House and vertical tutor group system, which in turn provides opportunities for developing strong student leadership at every level. Built into the Academy day and beyond it are significant opportunities for independent learning, study support, entrepreneurial and sporting activities.
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Year 7 - 11
IB Middle Years Programme Art Computer Science Design Technology Drama English Humanities LIBF - Level 2 Mathematics Modern Foreign Languages Music Physical Education Science Sixth Form IB Career-related Programme IB Diploma Subjects Biology Business Management English Language and Literature History ITGS Mathematics Psychology Visual Arts Vocational Courses LIBF (Finance) - Year 12 LIBF (Finance) - Year 13 Health and Social Care Sport | ||||
