At St. Ninian’s High School, we use a range of baseline assessments to help track student progress and support learning effectively. These assessments provide valuable insights into students' abilities and help us tailor teaching to individual needs.
It is important to note that, as with all assessments, the information gathered, and results of the assessments are a reflection of performance on a single day and form part of a wider approach to assessment and planning in school.
The baseline assessments used are:
New Group Reading Test (NGRT) and New Group Spelling Test (NGST) - Taken in the first term of Year 7
Are adaptive assessments that measure students’ reading and spelling skills against the national average. They provide detailed information about sentence completion, reading comprehension and spelling skills, helping to identify areas where support may be needed. A guide to the NGRT and NGST assessments can be found here and an example of what the questions on the assessments will look like can be found here.
CAT4 (Cognitive Abilities Test) - Taken in the first term of Year 7
A suite of assessments designed to measure students developed cognitive abilities in key areas such as verbal, non-verbal, quantitative, and spatial reasoning. These tests help identify individual strengths, areas for development, and academic potential beyond what is observed in the classroom. A guide to the CAT4 assessments and what the questions will look like can be found here.
Progress Tests – Taken at the end of Year 9
Formal assessments in English, Maths, and Science that measure students’ attainment and progress in the core curriculum. These tests assess knowledge, understanding, and application of skills, and help identify learning gaps both at the individual and cohort level. A guide to the suit of progress tests can be found here.
The Company Behind the Assessments: The suite of baseline assessments are provided by GL Education, is a leading provider of educational assessments in the UK. Their tests are developed by experts in education and are widely used by schools across the country and internationally. GL’s assessments are designed to give reliable, valid, and insightful data on pupil progress and attainment, helping schools support and challenge students effectively.
Why These Assessments Are Important
For Parents
These assessments provide an independent measure of how your child is progressing in key subjects compared to other students nationally. This can help you to:
- Understand areas of strength and where your child may benefit from further support.
- Have more informed discussions with your child and their teachers.
- Access specific suggestions on how to support learning at home.
For Students
The feedback encourages students to reflect on their learning and take ownership of their progress. Understanding their own performance can help students to:
- Be motivated to set realistic and personalised goals.
- Reinforce areas of strength and target revision and skill development in areas for improvement.
- Build confidence through measured and consistent progress tracking.
For School
The results help us as a school to:
- Provide appropriate challenge and support in lessons.
- Tailor teaching to meet the needs of students more effectively.
- Monitor the impact of our curriculum and teaching strategies.
- Inform decisions about future learning priorities and interventions.
Understanding Reports
Parents will receive a detailed report for both the CAT4 assessments and the Progress Test results. These reports include:
Key Indicator Scores: A variety of data points are included on the report to help understand individual performance against national averages, as well as an indication of GCSE grade potential. The diagram attached provides an explanation of each element of the report table. Guidance videos are available on the following links which further explain some of the key scores that are reported - SAS , Stanine , NPR .
Subject and Battery Specific Comments: Reports will include a summary of your child’s strengths and skills in each of the four areas covered by the CAT4 assessments, and a review of how well your child has understood key concepts and areas of the curriculum through the Progress Tests report.
Next Steps: The reports includes suggestions and guidance based on the results on how parents can help support their child’s continued learning at home.