Assessment Model

The Harris Westminster assessment model is another unique aspect of life in the sixth form. Here are some of the features of how our assessment model works.   

Assessment in every lesson and lab

Assessment happens every day. Students are encouraged to listen very carefully to, and act upon, the feedback they are given by teachers in class in every lesson. Answers to questions, advice, explanations are the lifeblood of learning and we encourage students to take them in, greedily.

Informal assessment

Students will be assessed regularly during lessons according to what works best for each subject. Format and timeline of assessments are decided independently by subject and communicated to students as needed. The purpose of these assessments is for students to respond to their learning; these assessments are informal.

Formal assessment 

Students have 2 formal assessment points each year; in Year 13, these take the form of mock examinations in preparation for A-Levels; in Year 12, they take the form of larger scale assessments that cover all learning to date, but don’t resemble an A-Level paper.

Assessment reported half-termly

At the end of every half term students receive a report which gives them a mark out of 10 for each subject in the following areas:

Mechanics: this mark tells students how well they have mastered the knowledge and skills that form the core of the subject; it tells them how good they are at recall, at writing and working accurately.

Purpose: this mark tells students how good they are at seeing the “big picture”, applying wider contextual understanding; at answering “synoptic” questions; at synthesising and applying their learning; at asking hard questions, and at solving problems.

Response: this mark tells students how well they are responding to feedback, taking responsibility for their learning and making a smart, strategic effort to improve learning of both Mechanics and Purpose.