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14/01/21
School food really matters. Thanks to our staff and Met police officers for helping us provide 400 free breakfast bags for #Southwark children this week. Each bag has two weeks’ of breakfasts. Bags went out on Tues and Weds this week. @MPSSouthwark https://t.co/AwjlkJ492v
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14/01/21
HBAED students... do you need more data to help you study? The government has launched a scheme which temporarily increases data allowances for some mobile phone users so that students can access remote education. Click here to find out more and apply https://t.co/jiLFD5e3HK
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13/01/21
It's Wellbeing Wednesday so why not complete this full body yoga session today? https://t.co/VjNSsFO3BM. We've a different suggested wellbeing activity for every single day in January in our HBAED Wellbeing Calendar at https://t.co/6TLBvrc75w. Take a look!
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13/01/21
Over 2,300 e-books are now available through your school Reading Cloud log in. Click https://t.co/8qjGxjnHyG to start reading. Username is your school email address (initial.surname@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk). Password is harrisboys (you can change this). https://t.co/PIVQI1Weye https://t.co/DygbXOxpXo
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12/01/21
@nixie_nix Thanks for getting in touch, Nicole. If you are having problems accessing the dashboard could you email info@harrisdulwichboys.org.uk please? You can mark it for attention of Ms George if you like. We'll then get you the help you need.
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12/01/21
We want to boost our students’ vocabulary and Bedrock is one of the tools we use. Has your child logged on? Are they consistently working on Bedrock? How much progress have they made? See your parent dashboard for an insight. Let’s close the vocabulary gap together!
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12/01/21
Our Health and Wellbeing Calendar has a suggested activity for every day in January, to help you look after your health and wellbeing. See what's on the calendar today at https://t.co/YjQOUyUVYe https://t.co/hpLWpd0vnz
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12/01/21
Retweetd From Southwark Police
Southwark Safer Schools Officers assisted @HarrisEDB food bag packing event this afternoon, 370 students will receive two weeks’ worth of Breakfast Bags to assist during these challenging times, these will be collected tomorrow by the families https://t.co/8nrpiFao0V
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11/01/21
This week's PE challenge is to complete a 5k run, jog or walk. Mr May has been out and running to set you some 5k times to try and beat, if you want to! But it doesn’t really matter how long it takes. Find out how to take part at https://t.co/hdRLfdWpbs https://t.co/Nu48VhQIek
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07/01/21
Thank you to entrepreneur Mark Jenner, Founder of @ridebeeline for his inspirational talk to our Yr 7 boys recently as part of their Active Citizens Enterprise Day. “It was great to to see the boys demonstrate such confidence," he said. Read more https://t.co/vZO9XrCo0H https://t.co/MpxuonVESO
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05/01/21
We are pleased to announce that we are committed to achieving the Quality in Careers Standard in 2021. We aim to provide an outstanding programme of careers education, information, advice and guidance to address the career development needs of all our students @QualityCareersS https://t.co/eJZyq7RJf0
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04/01/21
Getting this lovely message from a parent made a BIG difference to our day today🙂. https://t.co/W0iaNJNPFW
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04/01/21
Covid testing in schools. To see our letter to parents about this national scheme, including the consent form, please visit https://t.co/3ymUT61MVM. Thank you.
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31/12/20
Please see our Covid-19 Updates page for the latest details of start of term arrangements. Thank you as ever for your cooperation. https://t.co/dincMb7BT1
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23/12/20
We are proud to present our Seasonal Showcase 2020 to show that, despite Covid, the arts at Harris Boys' Academy East Dulwich are thriving! Watch at https://t.co/qNmkKbaSbt https://t.co/K9XcI0uceD
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15/12/20
HBAED staff wishing you festive cheer - watch here! https://t.co/0ZCdWJfh2h
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15/12/20
Thanks for the opportunity and congratulations to the winners! https://t.co/TxtcU4nZS7
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15/12/20
Prof Martin Marshall, Chairman of the Royal College of General Practitioners, took the time recently to speak to our Yr 9 & 10 aspiring medics. The boys really valued hearing him talk about the impact of a GP's work and his views on the Covid vaccine. https://t.co/b9kyhpOpqV https://t.co/oEkPCjCXFk
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14/12/20
A nice message from a parent to start the week: "What a wonderful job the staff at Harris Boys' academy are doing. I commend you all for your tenacity and determination and most of all the intensity of the support provided to the boys during these challenging times."🙂
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14/12/20
Denzel is just one of 25 Year 7 boys enjoying breakfast with the Principal this morning. A deserved reward for an excellent first term! https://t.co/fLfGttwFyf
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All students in the academy are assessed regularly, with a formal assessment at least once each term.
These tests aim to develop students' exam technique and enable them to demonstrate depth of knowledge, critical thought and, for many subjects, their practical skills. Most importantly, they are used to help gauge progress and to take action to improve your son’s learning and progress.
In order to keep you informed about your son’s/ward's progress, we will report back to you at three points during the academic year - one report for every term. These reports will summarise the academic (based on the termly assessments) and non-academic progress your son has made.
The report has seven main components:
(a) The first is the literacy scores your son has achieved against four key literacy criteria, on a scale of 1-4 with 4 being ‘outstanding’ and 1 being ‘cause for concern.’ This is then presented as an overall literacy score out of 16.
(b) The second is the ‘Attitude to Learning’ score which reflects the commitment, resilience, optimism, reflectiveness, resourcefulness, reciprocity towards their own learning.
(c) The third element is an attendance and punctuality summary. The goal for 2015-16 is that every student achieves at least 98% attendance and is always punctual.
(d) The fourth element is a summary of Harris points which reflects the points accrued in the full array of positive student actions including gentlemanly behaviour, bringing the right equipment to every lesson, and showing a thirst for learning.
(e) The fifth element is a summary of the behaviour points accrued, a summary of sanctions your son has received and the boundary that they are within – which summarises the support they are receiving to correct any unacceptable behaviour.
(f) The sixth element is your son’s academic progress. This is presented as a test % which converts into a ‘most likely grade’ (MLG) which is based purely on the test % (NOTE: the grade boundaries will vary from subject to subject and from one assessment to the next dependent on the course).
This is then compared to their target grade (which is formulated from their KS2 level – and the expectation that they will make one grade progress above the national average) and the minimum attainment baseline which stems from the data published by the Department for Education (DfE) for the pupils to make the average (or average expected) progress. On reports, pupils have a progress status that is made against the DfE data.
If their progress status is above 0, that means they are making progress above what would be expected, which is good. If their progress status is +0.29 and above, their progress is much higher than the national average which is outstanding. The teacher also records a ‘Teacher Most Likely Grade’ (TMLG) which is a prediction of the grade the teacher believes the student is likely to achieve at the end of Y11 based upon their assessments, classwork and homework. The grades for these students on their courses will be presented as letters and/or numbers dependent upon their year group and course due to them taking the ‘new’ GCSEs. There will also be pass, merit and distinction grades for our approved vocational courses.
(g) The final element is a teacher comment which will provide a target for improvement. Each student will receive at least one target from each subject once per academic year.
The minimum expected grade is complicated as it is based on the actual marks in KS2 tests (or CATs tests for pupils who did not sit KS2 test) rather than the levels. Our target grades are based on the latest DfE tables, with the target being formulated by our expectation that pupils can achieve one grade higher than the national average.
Your son’s target grade reflects our expectation that they can meet or exceed at least a grade higher than the national average. Results from previous years show that the majority of HBAED pupils far exceed the national expectations and so these targets are aspirational but realistic.
As the tests are designed to cover material that has been taught, we would expect pupils to be able to achieve their target grade at each assessment point. Therefore, maintaining their target grade in a following assessment point would demonstrate that they have made progress because they will have achieved that grade having been tested on a greater quantity of topics. Exceeding their target grade would be exceptional as it would show that they are achieving well beyond expectations.
After the assessments have taken place, teachers will review progress in teams and with pupils. Teachers will share the grades as well as strengths and areas to improve with pupils. We expect all pupils to take time to reflect on their progress and to ensure they take the actions needed to improve.
At HBAED, we have a fluid banding (setting) cycle which works in tandem with the assessment cycle. After the assessment point, teachers sit down with Directors in English, Mathematics and Science and review the current ability bands pupils are in. They use the assessment data but will also discuss classwork and homework in making decisions about any banding changes. The curriculum has been designed so that the blocks for English, Maths and Science are independent of one another. We understand that learning is not linear and this system allows for pupils to change the band they are in 2-3 times a year and for different subjects. The aim of this is to ensure the pace of the lesson best suits their learning needs and it maximises the chances of them achieving excellent grades by the end of Year 11.
Due to the changes in GCSE specifications we have adapted our assessments and grading systems so that they adhere to the new specification requirements. We have worked with the Harris Federation and, having consulted exam boards, we are moving towards a model where all of our termly assessments are externally set, standardised and graded. The table below summarises the externally set and graded assessments currently. See below for an explanation of the table.
Subject | Year 7 | Year 8 | Year 9 | Year 10 | Year 11 |
Art | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | HBAED | HBAED |
Business | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED | ||
Computing and ICT | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED |
Dance | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | HBAED |
Drama | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | HBAED |
DT | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED |
English Language | HF | HF | HF | HF | HF |
English Literature | HF | HF | HF | HF | HF |
French | HBAED | ||||
Geography | HF | HF | HF | HF | HBAED |
History | HF | HF | HF | HF | HBAED |
Hospitality and Catering | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED |
Mathematics | HF | HF | HF | HF | HF |
Media | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED | ||
Music | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | Hybrid | HBAED |
Physical Education | Hybrid | Hybrid | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED |
Religious Studies | HF | HF | HF | HF | HBAED |
Science | HF | HF | HF | HF | HBAED |
Additional Science | HF | HF | HF | HF | HBAED |
Further Additional Science | HF | HF | HF | HF | HBAED |
Spanish | HF | HF | HF | HF | HBAED |
Travel & Tourism | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED | ||
Citizenship | HBAED | HBAED | HBAED |
All assessments marked 'HF' in the table above are set by specialist consultants from the Harris Federation and will be unseen by teachers at our academy. Pupils work on a scheme of work that has been specially adapted for the year group and develops the knowledge and skills over time to best prepare them for their terminal assessments in Y11. The % scores for each externally set exam are then standardised and grade boundaries created for each % based on a model which has been developed in consultation with exam boards. This means the grade is an accurate prediction of what the pupil is likely to achieve as the model distributes grades against a national model.
All assessments for years 10 and 11 marked ‘HBAED’ in the table above are past papers from exam boards (or section of papers). The grade boundaries that these are based on are taken from the exam board and converted into grade 1-9 using the Ofqual conversion % guidance. Each GCSE subject therefore has its own tailored grade boundaries which takes into account the trends within the course and national changes.
All assessments marked ‘HBAED’ in other year groups are set by the Director for the subject and for the Spring and Summer exams are verified by the senior leadership team as a quality assurance process. The grade boundaries for these are also based on national grade boundaries (as in years 10 and 11).
Assessments marked ‘Hybrid’ are those that cover our practical courses. These use Assessment Objective criteria set externally by Harris Federation consultants and lead teachers. Pupils need to demonstrate the skills within this criteria to achieve the Assessment Objective. These assessment objectives are than converted into a % which will equate to a grade either set by the Harris Federation grading standardisation process (as with nearly all new GCSEs) or converted against the subject and exam board grade boundaries (as with ‘HBAED’ Y10 and Y11 assessments).
Key Stage 4 Performance Tables
Definitions are based on the Key Stage 2 test results attained by pupils on completion of the primary school phase:
Key Stage 2 results used to calculate prior attainment
From 2017 onwards, reading and mathematics test results only will be used in calculating Key Stage 2 prior attainment fine levels for use in Progress 8. For 2016 and for 2015 for schools opting in early to Progress 8, overall English and mathematics Key Stage 2 test results were used to calculate prior attainment. This is summarised in the table below.
Progress 8 measure by year |
|
|
|
KS4 Cohort |
KS2 Cohort |
KS2 tests used in calculating prior attainment fine level bands |
|
2015 |
2010 |
English and mathematics |
|
2016 |
2011 |
English and mathematics |
|
2017 |
2012 |
Reading and mathematics |
|
2018 |
2013 |
Reading and mathematics |
For the Key Stage 4 tables, where we are looking at Key Stage 2 prior attainment, we calculate the pupil’s average points score and classify those with a points score of less than 24 as low; those between 24 and 29.99 as middle, and those with 30 or more as high attaining.
Where teacher assessment is used as a proxy for test results, we take the whole level and allocate the appropriate points relating to the mid-range of the level.
The Key Stage 2 data helps us to allocate pupils to appropriate groups when they first arrive to the academy and enables us to support pupils more effectively. For example, lower ability pupils may have extra scaffolding to help them to understand concepts and higher ability pupils may be invited to specialist ‘stretch and challenge’ workshops.
For a more in-depth explanation of our assessment policy, you can download our assessment policy from our teaching and learning page. As this is the second year of our new assessment regime, this policy will be updated regularly as we continue to embed, evaluate and improve the new system.