using incas and the annual report information sessions for principals october 2008

Using InCAS

and the

Annual Report

Information Sessions for PrincipalsOctober 2008

Session Content

Today’s session will:• Consider feedback from the evaluations

conducted to date; • Provide the latest information from the

Department of Education;• Highlight the help and support currently available

for schools • Look at the variety of feedback provided by

InCAS; and• Outline the training planned for the year ahead.

Timings

9.30 am or 1.00 pm Welcome

10.30 am or 2.00 pm Tea/coffee

12.00 pm or 3.30 pm Finish

Session 1

Recommendations from Final Evaluation Report on the implementation of the InCAS computer-based assessments and the Annual Report in Primary Schools during the transitional year 2007/2008:

• Communication;• InCAS;• Profiles 7 Software; and• Annual Report.

Communication

Recommendation 1“Communications .. should be shared between all Partners…”

Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year2007/2008.

Communication

Recommendation 2

“At the start of the next school year CCEA should

inform schools which elements of the Annual Reports are statutory.”

Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year

2007/2008.

Communication

Recommendation 3“CCEA should provide teachers with an ‘at a Glance guide’ outlining what elements of InCASand the Annual Report are statutoryand flexible.”

Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitionalYear 2007/2008.

Communication

Recommendation 4

“CCEA should communicate with parents on the new assessment and reporting arrangements.”

Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year2007/2008.

Parent Leaflets

InCAS

Recommendation 1

“… additional computer capacity may

be required to support the use of InCAS within

Primary schools.”

Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year

2007/2008.

InCAS

Recommendation 2

“… develop expertise and confidence in both

administering and analysing feedback produced

from InCAS.”

Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year

2007/2008.

InCAS

Recommendation 3

“Teachers would welcome advice on how to share InCAS feedback with parents.”

Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year 2007/2008.

DE Response

“…2008-09 …it will be for schools to decide whether they should report orally or in writing and the format of any such reports… whether they provide the outcomes for autumn 2008 only, or .. also provide outcomes from autumn 2007.”

“Where a parent asks for certain information to be made available in writing or orally, this should be provided”DE Circular 2008/22 Para 11, 30 September 2008.

DE Response

“…before the requirement to report in writing is

introduced in 2009/10”

DE Circular 2008/22 Para 11, 30 September 2008.

DE Response

“The InCAS assessments are not for any purpose

related to the transfer of pupils from primary to

post-primary school.”

DE Circular 2008/22 Para 9, 30 September 2008.

DE Response

“The Department/CCEA will not collect the InCAS

information centrally recognising its diagnostic

purpose within a class and school.”

DE Circular 2008/22 Para 11, 30 September 2008.

InCAS

Recommendation 4“Further adaptations to InCAS are needed to meet the needs of pupils with Special Educational Needs and those with English as an Additional Language.”

Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year2007/2008.

Profiles 7

Recommendation 1“Consideration should be given to whether Profiles 7 is the most appropriate report writing software or if an alternative should be sought and trialled. Alternatively, Profiles 7 should be developed as a matter of urgency to ensure it better meets the needs of schools completing the Annual Report.” Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year2007/2008.

DE Response

“When completing the Annual Report it is a matter

of individual choice if schools/ teachers want to

use the electronic report writing tool (Profiles 7) or

not. Word versions are available or the reports

can be handwritten”

DE Circular 2008/22 Para 16, 30 September 2008.

Profiles 7

Recommendation 2

“All teachers who plan to use the Profiles 7 report

writing software should be provided with

appropriate training.”

Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year

2007/2008.

DE Response

“CCEA and C2k will continue to provide helpdesk

support and training, including online support

materials.”

DE Circular 2008/22 Para 16, 30 September 2008.

DE Response

“There are issues around data security in terms of full home access to pupil data in the context ofcompleting reports at home, which some teachersindicated they would like to do. However, thiswould be the case no matter what the reportingrequirements”

DE Circular 2008/22 Para 16, 30 September 2008.

Annual Report

Recommendation1 “Schools should be advised explicitly what the purpose of the Annual Reports is and in particular its role (if any) in transfer arrangements.” Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year2007/2008.

Annual Report

Recommendation 2 “Schools require development time to tailor comment banks and ensure all Annual Reports are

personalised to individual pupils.”

Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year2007/2008.

DE Response

“It is also a matter of school/ teacher choice whether

to use the comment banks, which are optional”

DE Circular 2008/22 Para 16, 30 September 2008.

Annual Report

Contains information about:

• Cross-Curricular Skills (Communication, Using Mathematics and Using ICT)

• Other skills (Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities)(Comment banks available for the above)

• Focus for Development • Areas of Learning• Interests and Strengths• Optional Content

Annual Report

Standardised:• Statutory minimum content• Fixed headings• AttendanceFlexible:• Headings labelled optional can be removed • Optional Content can be re-named• Box sizes• Font style and size• Length• Logo• Scores

Annual Report

Recommendation 3

“Principals, teachers, pupils and parents would like

to see marks/grades to be included within the

Annual Reports.”

Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year

2007/2008.

DE Response

“Where a school would previously have provided

additional information such as class test results,

they will have the flexibility to continue to provide

such information to parents”

DE Circular 2008/22 Para 16, 30 September 2008.

Annual Report

Recommendation 4

“Consideration should be given to moving the

‘Focus for Development’ section towards the end

of the Annual Report.”

Final Evaluation Report on …..the transitional year

2007/2008.

CCEA Continuing Help and Support

www.nicurriculum.org.uk

Pupil Profile Home Page

Information available for:• Parents• Teachers• Pupils

Help Desk

NI Curriculum Website

Helpdesk for Schools 02890 261274

Session 2

InCAS Feedback

Using the Feedback?

“Action for Schools• ensure ..learning needs of each child are

assessed…

• ensure ..effective arrangements …to identify those children in need of additional support.

• ensure that interventions are put in place together with monitoring arrangements….”

DE Circular 2007/11 Para 7, 30 March 2007.

7 Types of Feedback

Standard Feedback

Scores Chart

Scores Table

Longitude Chart

Difference Table

Standardised Scores Table

Age Comparison Chart

Standard Feedback

Standard Feedback

4 Levels Available

Class Scores Table

Order by : GenMaths    

    Age Equivalent Scores (Yrs:Mths)

    Achievement

  Age    

Name (Yrs:Mths) Reading GenMaths

Kim K 9:0 11:6 12:2

Joe C 9:1 9:2 10:4

Sophia R 8:11 8:6 9:11

Zane C 8:9 8:10 9:9

Anna M 9:1 7:6 9:5

Chanelle A 8:11 7:5 9:0

Molly K 9:2 8:4 9:0

Alex B 8:8 <4:0 8:6

Araminta J 8:10 7:5 7:11

Class Difference Table

Order by : Comprehension        

    Age Difference (Yrs:Mths)

    Reading Modules

  Age Word Word    

Name (Yrs:Mths) Recog Decoding Compreh Spelling

William A 9:0 +1:5 +4:2 +3:1 +1:8

Hayley T 8:10 +2:2 +5:8 +2:9 +3:11

Kim K 9:0 +1:4 +5:6 +2:3 *

Zane C 8:9 +0:10 -0:1 +0:2 +1:4

Joe C 9:1 -1:3 +2:7 0:0 *

Emma H 8:7 +1:10 +1:3 -0:4 0:0

Sophia R 8:11 +0:9 -1:5 -0:4 +0:11

Molly K 9:2 -0:8 -1:3 -0:5 +0:3

Oliver F 9:1 -0:10 -0:2 -0:10 +0:2

Araminta J 8:10 -0:3 -1:4 -1:2 +0:7

Pupil Scores Table

Scores Chart

Longitude Chart

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

7 7.5 8 8.5 9 9.5 10 10.5

Age

Ag

e E

qu

ival

ent

Sco

re

Standardised Scores Table

      Mental Developed

Name Reading GenMaths Arithmetic Ability

Chanelle A 87 100 98 *

William A 124 * * 122

Alex B 57 98 * 61

Nuala B 81 81 * *

Joe C 100 112 * *

Zane C 101 111 108 118

Oliver F 93 * * 95

Emma H 108 91 83 *

Araminta J 89 91 70 *

Jake J 66 <55 * *

Kim K 121 132 * *

Molly K 93 98 93 *

Anna M 86 103 94 *

Mikey P 68 60 * *

Sophia R 97 111 108 102

Hayley T 125 * * 114

Age Comparison Chart

Training for the Year Ahead

• Year 4 and Year 7

Sub-cover will be provided for each teacher

Using the on-line materials currently available on

the NI Curriculum website

• Potential Training for InCAS Co-ordinators

Sharing Practice Activity

DE Advice to Principals

“Principals should make good use of the range of

assessment information within their school,

including InCAS outcomes, to ensure that

standards are raised and that every child can

achieve his or her full potential.”

DE Circular 2008/22 Para 11, 30 September 2008.

Using InCAS Feedback

As a Senior Manager, reflect on the sample information provided and please identify how you could lead the use of InCAS feedback within your school :

• With individual pupils• At class level• Within the wider school context

Sharing Practice

• With your colleagues discuss your ideas and note them on the flipchart paper provided.

• Identify one member of your group to report back to the other participants.

Summary

What is involved in 2008-2009?

Year 5 and 6 parent meeting will take place by the end of the autumn term.

Year 1, 2, 5 and 6 parents will receive an Annual Report before the end of the school year.

Year 5 and 6 pupils sit Reading and General Maths InCAS computer-based assessments during the autumn term.

Annual Report

Assessment

Parent Meeting

Further Information

Further information about the curriculum,

assessment and reporting continues to be made

available through the:

DE website: www.deni.gov.uk

NI Curriculum website: www.nicurriculum.org.uk

Evaluation