Assessment

Regular assessment is essential for ensuring students make strong progress. Teachers at CAST use a range of techniques throughout every lesson, including questioning, paired discussion, and mini-whiteboards, to check understanding and adapt teaching to meet students' needs.

Students also complete formal written assessments once per half-term in each subject. These provide a clear picture of progress over time and identify specific areas for development. Teachers provide written feedback on these assessments, and students are given dedicated time to respond, acting on feedback to deepen their understanding and address any gaps in their knowledge.

Students' assessments and feedback are stored in an assessment folder for each subject. This allows students to track their progress over time which provides a powerful support for revision in Year 11.

All students sit formal examinations twice per year under examination conditions. These provide an important opportunity for students to consolidate their learning and develop examination skills.

Students and parents receive an examination timetable in advance, detailing the topics covered in each paper to support effective revision. Following the examinations, parents receive a detailed results report.

Teachers analyse outcomes to identify where students need additional support, which is then put in place. Students also receive feedback from their teachers on specific areas to develop before their next assessment.

For most courses in Key Stage 4, external assessment is in the form of GCSE exams held in May and June of Year 11.

However, applied courses also include a coursework component. This varies from course to course and more information can be found on the subject pages. The applied subjects are:

• Construction and the Built Environment
• Health and Social Care
• Information Technology (ICT)
• Sports Science