Pupil Progress

As a special school for pupils with learning difficulties and disabilities, all our pupils are working below the expected levels of the national tests at the relevant key stages. It is therefore almost always inappropriate for our children to be entered for these tests.

We recognise that Progression Guidance is no longer used to benchmark special school data. However, in the absence of an alternative national data set we are continuing to use this as a comparative indicator so we can compare data over time. We are part of the ‘North West Specialist Curriculum, Assessment and Pedagogy Group’ (NWSCAP previous NWSAG) which develops a coherent response to Assessment Without levels in the Special sector. NWSCAP allows the attainment and progress of our pupils to be bench-marked against the attainment and progress of other children of the same age, level of prior attainment and categories of Special Educational Need.

Our assessments are based on the professional judgment of staff. Teachers use their knowledge of the child, consider the contexts in which learning takes place and gather evidence from a variety of sources, to support their decisions and to make their judgements based on everyday activity as well as continual monitoring and assessment. These judgements are moderated both internally and externally with professionals from other schools.
 
Unlike the standard national curriculum, at special schools there is no expectation that a child will achieve a particular level by a given age or make progress at a predetermined rate. However, attainment of a level by a particular age helps identify likely rate of progress using the NWSCAP assessment tool. 
 
End of Key Stage Pupil Progress:
 
As described above, pupils’ progress is bench-marked against a data set from NWSCAP to either have ‘Expected Progress’ or ‘Exceeding Expected Progress’. Each pupil has their own target based on teacher judgements.
 
Key Stage 4 (Year 11)
15 pupils completed Key Stage 4 in summer 2021. Taking into consideration that this cohort was adversely impacted by the National COVID-19 Lockdown the final outcomes have been positively upheld from previous years.  
•    AQA Step up to English: 2 pupils achieved a Silver Award and 5 achieved a Gold.
•    Entry Level Certificate in English: 1 pupil achieved Entry Level 1, 5 pupils achieved Entry Level 2 and 2 pupils achieved Entry Level 3.
•    Entry Level Certificate in Maths: 2 pupil achieved Entry Level 1, 4 pupils achieved Level 2 and 6 pupils achieved Entry Level 3.
•    Maths Functional Skills: 3 pupils achieved Entry Level 1, 4 pupils achieved Level 2 and 1 pupil achieved Entry Level 3.
•    Entry Level Certificate Science: 1 pupil achieved Entry Level 1 (Single), 6 pupils achieved Level 2 (Double) and 3 pupils achieved Entry Level 3 (Double).
•    Entry Level Certificate in PE: 1 pupil achieved Entry Level 1, 6 pupils achieved Level 2 and 2 pupils achieved Entry Level 3.
•    ICT Functional Skills: 3 pupils achieved Entry Level 2 and 6 pupils achieved Entry Level 3.
•    OCR L1 Award in IT User Skills: 1 pupil awarded accreditation.
•    OCR L2 Award in IT User Skills: 8 pupils awarded accreditation.
•    BTEC L2 Award in Home Cooking: 9 pupils awarded accreditation.
•    Food Safety Level 1: 9 pupils awarded accreditation.
•    In the ASDAN Personal Development Programme: 3 pupils achieved Bronze Award, 1 pupil achieved Silver Award and 10 pupils achieved Gold Award.
•    3 pupils achieved the NCFE L1 Certificate in Skills for Further Learning and Employment.
•    5 pupils achieved the BTEC L1 Award in Construction.
•    One pupil achieved accreditation at Level 1 in Health and Safety and Welfare in Construction.
•    One pupil achieved NCFE Level 1 Diploma in Occupational Studies in the Workplace.
•    One pupil achieved NCFE Level 1 Award in Occupational Studies in the Workplace.
•    2 pupils achieved NCFE Level 1 Certificate in Occupational Studies in the Workplace.
•    One pupil achieved NCFE Level 2 Certificate in Hospitality and Catering.
•    8 pupils achieved their Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award.
 
Destination of YR 11 Leavers 
All but one of our leavers have successfully moved on to further education or training. At the end of the 2020/2021 school year:
•    8 pupils have moved on to post-16 provision.
•    6 pupils have moved on to Foundation Learning courses at college.
•    1 further pupil had not been placed due to unforeseen circumstances.
 
Key Stage 3 (Year 9)
9 pupils completed Key Stage 3 in summer 2021.
•    In English (Reading) 100% of pupils made at least expected progress. 
•    In Maths 100% of pupils made at least expected progress.  
•    In Science 100% of pupils made at least expected progress. 
 
Key Stage 2 (Year 6)
6 pupils completed Key Stage 2 in summer 2021. 
•    In English (Reading) 83% of pupils made at least expected progress.
•    In Maths 83% of pupils made at least expected progress.  
•    In Science 83% of pupils made at least expected progress.

Key Stage 1 (Year 2)
2 pupils completed Key Stage 1 in summer 2021. 
•    In English (Reading) 100% of pupils made at least expected progress. 
•    In Maths 100% of pupils made at least expected progress.  
•    In Science 100% of pupils made at least expected progress.

Early Years Foundation Stage (Reception Year)
2 pupils completed the Early Years Foundation Stage in summer 2021. 100% of pupils made at least expected progress in all areas of the Engagement Steps.