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Northampton School for Boys

Northampton School for Boys

Secure Student Information

Contact Data

Logging in with the secure username and password should list any children currently on roll at the school.

Should you find only one son or daughter listed when there should be others then there is an error in our records. Please telephone the school on 01604 230240 and ask to speak to Mrs Sharp or email the school on nsb@nsb.northants.sch.uk to update us with any of this data.

Attendance

This facility should enable parents to check on their child's attendance record. This data is updated during registration, so should provide "up to the minute" information.

Registers are taken each day at 8.45 am and 2.00 pm. Students are recorded as Present, Late (to registration) or Absent. Data is added for students who are late after registration or for whom absence notification has been received - i.e. the N for absent is then coded to give a reason for absence.

Where parents are concerned about their child having a missing mark or being shown as absent or having an incorrect reason for absence then they should contact the school to query matters. We would ask that due time is given for records to be updated before contacting the school.

Assessment

Assessment data is recorded by teachers to indicate how a student is progressing against their targets.

Behaviour for Learning -
scores 1 - Outstanding; 2 - Good; 3 - Requires improvement; 4 - Inadequate

Home Learning - (scores as for Behaviour for Learning)

End of term tests and grades - Subjects will assess how a student has performed each term. The nature of this assessment will differ from subject to subject and in one single term is unlikely to reflect every aspect of the course nor how it will be assessed at the end of the course. It does, however, give an indication of how the student is working at present and enables the teacher to gauge whether the student is on track to do as well as they are expected. Depending on how many lessons a week the course is taught for the assessment will vary in its scope. Grade boundaries are set taking into account how challenging the test is expected to be, and so the same percentage will not equate to the same grade in different tests or in different subjects. When testing on a few weeks work these grades can only be indicative of a grade which is only truly meaningful when applied to the whole course.

Class averages - These scores are provided as an indication of how a student is performing relative to their peers.  It should be noted that some classes are set and some are mixed ability.

Expected Target - The grade or level that we would expect your son or daughter to achieve, based on the average progress made by students nationally with the same starting point (KS2 SATs scores for years 7-11 and GCSE performance for years 12 and 13).

Aspirational Target - Initially one grade or level above the Expected Target, this is an aspirational target to be aimed for. Achievement of this target would represent exceptional progress. This target may be raised or lowered over time so that it remains motivational for the student.

Please Note:

  • A student might perform at a higher level than the target for part of a course but not even achieve the target when the whole course is assessed.
  • A student might perform well below the target grade at the start of a course in subjects where skills develop over time and it is impossible for the student to access higher levels until the final stages of the course.
  • Students should be well aware of the significant assessments being made on their progress and should be able to explain to a parent what a given grade in a given subject represents. 

Comment - This indicates whether or not the subject teacher feels that Freddie is on track to secure his target level by the end of the academic year. The teacher has taken all factors into account including end of term test results, the quality of class work and attitude in making this judgement. This comment may show variation over the year, subject to levels of performance maintained by the student and will not necessarily reflect the grade from the end of term test.

Frequently Asked Questions on Assessment

The questions below often arise when parents first get access to assessment data in Y7 or during KS3. I hope the answers here will help clarify some of the issues as you try to judge how to react to the information provided.

How do I know if my son is doing what he should be to achieve his potential? 

Looking at the behaviour for learning, home learning and attainment grades should make clear whether your son's teacher feels your son is approaching his work properly. If your son is not trying as hard as the teacher thinks (or vice-versa) then do let the school know.

Will high grades mean my son moves up a set or a low grade that he goes down? 

Your son will be moved up if it is felt that he is outperforming corresponding students in his class and that he will benefit by being in the higher set. His level of working compared to the others in his class and his performance in lessons will be taken into account. A high working-at-grade in one term's assessment does not necessarily mean that he is due to be moved up. If your son is showing signs of making good progress then he may well be best left in the class he is in. We move students up where we believe this will give him more scope for improvement.

Your son will be moved down where we come to the conclusion that his potential in the subject has been overestimated or where we believe that he will make better progress in a lower set. Again his performance in assessments, compared to his peers will be taken into account. Once sets are established and settle down it is usual practice to give notice that improvement is necessary to avoid moving down, rather than do so based on one poor performance in one assessment.

What if I am concerned by the grades or pathway or behaviour for learning or home learning grades? 

You are welcome to share concerns with the Form Tutor if you have an overall concern or, if relating to an individual subject, to make contact with the subject teacher. It is clearly unhelpful if lots of parents contact lots of teachers every term about minor fluctuations in levels, as we need teachers to concentrate their efforts on delivering high quality teaching, but we would rather deal with genuine issues than have an ongoing problem. Do please look at the calendar and see when the subject teachers will be available for a parent evening and if possible wait until these key times to get further information. If you have concerns, however, which can not wait then do please contact the school and ask to speak to the teacher concerned.

If there are further questions you feel we should include in this list then please email me at nsb@nsb.northants.sch.uk.

Reports

The end of term tests are collated into a report on termly progress. Reports for a given year (the termly subject reports) are grouped within a folder for the Academic year and are displayed in PDF format. Additionally one Form Tutor Report will be issued each academic year.

Homework (the Home Learning Schedule) 

Recent tasks that have been set by teachers for students to do at home or in non-contact time (sixth form) to support their learning.

Detentions

Any break, lunchtime or after school detentions which have been set this academic year.

M Edwards
Deputy Headmaster

Northampton School for Boys, Billing Road, Northampton, NN1 5RT
01604 230240