In order to monitor the academic progress of students over time, each department has to input a series of data at set points in time. There are usually three points within the academic year when this takes place, once per term.

Each HOD has to provide an assessment which is fit for purpose. This means that it is an appropriate length, and has a series of appropriate tasks which allow levels/grades to be determined. Once the assessment has been sat by the students, it is marked and moderated to ensure that marking is consistent. This is most accurately done when a GCSE paper with an official mark scheme is available.

The grade/level that the student is working at is recorded. This is referred to as the current grade. In order to make a fair and accurate prediction for an end of key stage grade/level, the transition matrices are used. These forecast progress in such a way that the predictions made are both consistent and aspirational. This is referred to as the predicted grade.

The third measure recorded in the tracking data is the ‘attitude to learning’ of the student. This is either excellent, good, satisfactory or poor. This is a subjective measure, based upon teacher judgement. However, we set a high standard as a school and therefore we encourage staff to only award higher than satisfactory when the student does show

The final measure recorded is homework completion. There are many categories related to the completion of homework and extended learning projects for both KS3 and KS4.

Once the tracking data has been recorded in ePortal, it will then be exported into a whole school spreadsheet and into individual subject ITRACK programmes. At this point, HODs are expected to complete an analysis of their tracking data. There is a specific template to do this, where they record analysis, actions and evaluative comments. Subject teachers are also expected to record interventions for individual students in the subject ITRACK programme, for any student that is red (which means they are on track to make less than 3 levels of progress from KS2-4).