Assessment, recording, reporting and homework

A programme of regular assessments and examinations is used to monitor and provide feedback on individual attainment and progress, as well as to develop revision techniques.

In all years, parents/carers will receive termly reports detailing their child’s progress and attainment. Parents will receive information about their child's Attitude to Learning (AtL), which describes the teacher’s perception of the students' independence, engagement and behaviour. 

In the Lower School, a Standardised Score is also included. This gives an indication of a student’s attainment against the school average for each subject studied.

Should parents/carers wish to receive additional information it may be possible to provide a progress report with additional information at other times. 

In the Autumn Term, there is a date to 'Meet the Form Tutor'. The parents' consultation evening for Year 7 students is usually in the Spring Term with annual consultation evenings thereafter, for parents/carers to discuss their child’s progress with members of the teaching staff.

Homework is an essential part of the work students have to do and is set regularly. Its purpose is to enable students to acquire, as early as possible, the facility to work independently and for solving problems without any immediate help. It helps develop character and personal qualities such as resilience self-discipline and persistence.  Both the standard of work done and the punctuality and regularity the student shows in completing their homework, are used in assessing their general standard of achievement.

The amount of homework set will increase steadily as your child progresses through the school and becomes more involved with the demands of examinations and assignments at GCSE and A Level.

An indication of the time spent on homework is as follows:

Years 7 - 9:  45 minutes per subject, typically two subjects, per night.

Years 10 - 13:  Two to three hours per night.

Students should, where possible, work in a quiet area away from the distractions of mobile technology and social media.

During the first half term of Year 7, homework will be staggered so that students can develop effective working practices. Homework will be a mix of learning and written tasks that will support and promote reading, writing, retrieval practice, memorisation and study skills.

Parents’ Evenings provide the opportunity to meet and talk to your child’s teachers and to find out in general terms how they are getting on. 

Due to such large numbers of students, Parents’ Evenings are organised differently in secondary schools.

Each parent has the facility to book appointments online via SchoolCloud, and you will be notified by email prior to the booking system opening. More information on how  to book will be provided by email a week or two before Parent’s Evening. 

Appointments are for five minutes. If you know that you will need longer than five minutes, please arrange a meeting with the teacher at another time. Appointments are limited to six teachers/subject and if a teacher is fully booked, you are able to join a waiting list and the teacher will contact you at a later date.

As some teachers may teach the whole of the year, it may not be physically possible for them to see every student. If you cannot make an appointment with a teacher that you really need to speak to, please contact them directly.

The date for the Year 7 Parents’ Evening  will appear on the school calendar which can be accessed via the website: www.chancellors.herts.sch.uk/Information/School Calendar