At Llangyfelach Primary School we believe effective assessment is at the heart of improving learning and teaching. It provides the basis of informed teaching, helping pupils to overcome difficulties and ensuring that teaching builds upon what has been learned. It is also the means by which pupils understand what they have achieved and what they need to work on. 

Pupils and staff select appropriate and effective AfL strategies that aid and enhance the learning process. In nearly all classes, verbal feedback is timely and personalised, suggesting clear ways to improve.  Pupil response systems are embedded and engaging, this is evident through lesson observation and workbook scrutiny.  Dialogue between staff and pupils, both verbal and non-verbal, is clearly acted upon to enable learners to make progress.  In nearly all classes, very good teacher modelling enables pupils to self and peer assess learning effectively.  Most pupils use marking codes effectively to identify and are encouraged to set personal ‘next steps’. As a result, all learners make good or better progress.

In nearly all classes, a wide range of relevant questioning techniques engages pupils in developing their understanding. Process time is well used, and most pupils engage well with questioning sessions.  Pupils increasingly ask questions of each other at formal and informal times.  In nearly all classes, higher order questioning is used by the teacher and pupils to deepen learning. 

LPS AfL Aims and Objectives:

• To improve the quality of learning and teaching.

• To raise the standards of achievement throughout the school.

• To enable the active involvement of pupils in their learning and self- assessment in order to improve their work.

• To enable our pupils to demonstrate what they know, understand and can do in their work.

• To involve pupils in their learning by sharing Learning Objectives and setting Success Criteria.

• To ensure teachers and pupils model the learning strategies, attributes, skills and standards so that collaboratively pupils learn to evaluate and improve.

• To provide in Reflection Time in order to develop self and peer evaluative skills.

• To enable our pupils to become independent learners who are excited by challenge.

• To develop higher order thinking and questioning using the LPS Matrix approach. 

• To encourage and develop self-directed and self-determined learning.

• To allow teachers to plan work that accurately reflects the needs of each pupil.

• To provide regular information for parents that enables them to support their children’s learning.

AfL at LPS:

• All staff will be trained and skilled at applying the contents of the AfL Progression Model Booklet which focuses on:

  • Editing Skills

  • Drafting Skills

  • Oracy Strategies

  • AfL Tools

  • Mr Men Approach

  • LPS Matrix

  • LPS Pupil Learning Journal Rubric Booklet

  • Marking Codes

  • Questioning Tools

  • Bilingual AfL Opportunities

• Staff will ensure that there are clear learning objectives for every learning activity, and success criteria where appropriate.

• Success criteria will be co-constructed. 

• Activities will be matched to the learning objective and success criteria. 

• Short term plans will include differentiation and assessment that affects next steps to inform future planning.

• All processes mentioned above feed into the continuous cycle of Assess, Plan, Teach, Assess.