Purpose

To ensure that our approach to evaluating children’s learning reflects not only what pupils achieve at a given moment (attainment) but also how much they develop over time (progress). Measuring both allows us to gain a fuller understanding of the impact of our curriculum, teaching, and provision.

This approach aligns with our school vision:

“We act in the best ways we can to support each child to become the best version of themselves.”

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Attainment shows what children can do at a specific point in time. While this information is valuable, it does not reveal how much learning has taken place.

Measuring progress helps us understand:

• How much children have developed from their starting points

• Whether teaching approaches are supporting learning effectively

• Whether pupils across the attainment range continue to improve.

As Moyse (2020) highlights, the key question for schools should be:

“How are we doing, and how do we know?”

Understanding progress helps answer this question more meaningfully, promoting Equity and Fairness. We recognise that children enter school with different backgrounds, experiences and starting points.

A progress-focused approach:

• Recognises substantial gains made by pupils starting from lower attainment levels

• Identifies high-attaining pupils whose progress may have slowed

• Provides a fairer picture of the impact of teaching and curriculum provision.

This ensures that success is measured by learning growth rather than comparison alone. This approach ensures that all stakeholders in our school focus on these essential questions:

• What outcomes have children achieved?

• How much progress have they made from their starting points?

• How effectively does the curriculum support their development?

• How well does our provision meet the needs of our community?

Measuring progress alongside attainment provides a more balanced and meaningful understanding of educational success. It recognises each child’s learning journey, supports wellbeing, and promotes fairness.

By focusing on both achievement and improvement, schools are better able to ensure that every child is supported to learn, develop, and thrive.