Diagnostic statements are replacing professional judgements

Diagnostic statements are replacing professional judgements

The change from professional judgements to diagnostics statements is as a result of schools returning to a more traditional pattern. SixIntoSeven was created as a very rapid response to the cancellation of SATs at the start of the pandemic. We worked closely with ASCL and willing volunteers from across the sector to produce judgments on what a child could or could not do. This would allow targeted teaching to start at the beginning of the new academic term.

The return of SATs

Diagnostic Statements

We are now looking forward to the return of normality, and with that, the return of SATs

We consulted schools to see whether they wanted to keep the professional judgments and the message from primary schools was positive. They welcomed the opportunity to identify strengths and weakness of their pupils in mathematics, English, and languages without the need to provide an overall grade. This is why they complement SATs

Similarly, secondary schools valued the structured and consistent curriculum information they received. They could group pupils from different primary schools with similar needs. This would allow for differentiated learning, where pupils who required the same levels of support, or had the need for greater challenge could be placed together.

The solution was diagnostic statements. These are designed to record what a pupil can and cannot do over the course of the year. This means that the Year 7 teachers can start delivering targeted learning on day one of the new term.

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