Homework
Homework benefits children as it helps to build effective study skills. It teaches time management, encourages responsibility and it instils the ability to learn independently.
At Clifton, homework is assigned weekly and can include reading, spelling, consolidation activities and catch-up tasks.
There will be no assigned homework on a Wednesday. This has been reintroduced, as children also need time to relax and decompress after working hard all day at school. During the Grade 6 and 7 exam periods, no homework will be given, however, learners are expected to study and prepare daily (including Wednesdays) during this time.
Assessment
We are committed to ensuring that our assessment process provides a balance between the formal test situation and class-based assessments, where knowledge is developed and subject-specific skills are honed.
Assessment is a daily part of life at Clifton. Assessment for learning is used to monitor work as well as to provide feedback for improvement. The ‘testing’ of knowledge, skills and understanding is a continuous process which helps to identify gaps and misconceptions and to consolidate learning and progression.
Assessment of learning (via formal methods such as Review Week) enables one to evaluate both learning and the impact of teaching at the end of a set period. It provides evidence of achievement against the objectives of the curriculum. The Review Week forms part of the learning process, allowing for practice and test-taking skills to develop in a nurturing environment, thereby enhancing the learning experience.
Grades 4 and 5: 100% continuous assessment
Grades 6 and 7: 75% continuous assessment; 25% formative assessment
Learning Support
The SP learning support team includes Megan Osler and Louise Rautenbach who provide in-house learning support.
Megan Osler provides small group Literacy support to identified children in Grades 4 and 5. She also provides in-class support throughout the Senior Primary. Louise Rautenbach provides small group Maths support to identified Grade 4 and 5 children.
Weekly meetings are held to discuss and monitor each child's performance and progress, from a learning support as well as pastoral perspective.
Extra Lessons
Extra academic support lessons are offered as part of the co-curricular programme and are arranged at the subject teachers’ discretion and after consultation. The details are loaded onto the School App each term.
Reporting and Parent Meetings
Grades 5 to 7: Mark-based reports are issued at the end of the first and third terms.
Grades 4 to 7: Official school reports are issued at the end of the second and fourth terms.
Parent-teacher interviews take place at the end of the first and third terms. The third term interview will be attended and led by your child, who will have completed an academic reflection per subject and will endeavour to share his or her achievements, and goals and identify areas for improvement.
Outings*
Grade 4
Term 1: Farm visit
Term 2: Nyala Pans
Term 3: Farm visit
Term 4: Roselands
Grade 5
Term 1: N/A
Term 2: Baynesfield and Khoisan Day
Term 3: Kamberg Rock Art Centre, Nelson Mandela Capture Site and Gwahumbe
Term 4: N/A
Grade 6
Grade 7
* Subject to change
