SCHOOL ASSESSMENT POLICY

Transcription

1 HARVEY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL ASSESSMENT POLICY 1. Overview This assessment policy is based on students taking responsibility for their own learning. It applies to all courses and subjects delivered at the school; including School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) Courses and Harvey SHS Lower School learning area subjects. As each assessment throughout the year has a significant influence on the final result in each subject or course, it is essential that all assessment items are completed on time and to the best of a student s ability. This policy must be read in conjunction with any additional assessment information provided by individual teachers. 2. Assessment guidelines Secondary schooling assessment has mandatory guidelines set by SCSA. Staff are required to provide all students with a subject or course unit outline and assessment outline at the start of the learning program. 3. Student responsibilities It is the students responsibility to: complete all subject/course requirements by the due date contact their teacher(s) to ensure that they understand the expectations of the subject/course follow procedure and negotiate with their teacher if they have a valid reason for late submission of work e.g. illness or a significant personal problem inform their relevant Lower School or Senior School Student Manager and teachers of any changes to personal circumstances read and be familiar with assessment requirements ensure all work submitted is their own participate in tests and exams according to the conditions required by Harvey SHS keep a copy/record of all tasks completed and make these available when required. maintain good attendance, conduct and progress ( a student who is absent for five periods/days or more a term is deemed to be at risk) 4. Teacher responsibilities It is the teachers responsibility to: develop a teaching/learning program that adheres to current SCSA guidelines provide students with a subject/course overview and assessment schedule at the commencement of the subject/course. A copy of these will be handed to the Deputy Principal. ensure that assessments are fair, valid and reliable, explicit and comprehensive maintain accurate records of student achievement and assessment in the Reporting to Parents portal meet school and external timeframes for assessment and reporting inform students and parents of academic progress as appropriate provide students with timely feedback on performance

2 promptly inform the appropriate administration staff if there are any issues which place a student at educational risk. participate in internal and external school moderation activities when necessary 5. Assessment Dates A subject or course outline, including timelines for submission of assessment tasks will be provided to each student at the start of the course. Due dates will not change without consultation with students and written notification. At Harvey Senior High School all assessments with a due date must be submitted by that date. Extensions Generally, it is not encouraged that students seek an extension of deadlines. In exceptional cases where work is not submitted on time, teachers will make their assessment judgement on the evidence available by the deadline. Extensions may be given at the discretion of Harvey Senior High School teaching staff in cases of illness or significant personal problems. It is the responsibility of the student to make contact with their teacher(s) if they anticipate they will be late with an assessment item. Students will need to negotiate a possible extension to the due date: extensions of the due date, for any assessment item, must be negotiated prior to the deadline extensions are not automatically granted the length of the extension is at the discretion of the teacher. If a student does not apply and receive an extension for a task, the consequences will be lower levels of achievement as follows: Late work penalty Assessments that are late or not submitted will affect a student s good standing (see good standing policy). Specially scheduled assessment tasks Absence from a specially scheduled assessment task (including tests and examinations) must be explained by one of the following: medical certificate parent/carer interview with a member of the school Administration staff Satisfactory explanation of the absence may enable the student to complete that assessment task, or a similar task, and gain credit. Wherever possible, advance notification of absence is required. In cases where a student is unable to complete a specially scheduled assessment task, and where appropriate supervision is guaranteed, permission may be negotiated to complete that task at a later date. 6. Assessing students who do not complete the assessment program Harvey SHS staff are aware that there may be circumstances that impact on a student s ability to complete set work. Students who do not complete the assessment program (i.e. do not complete/submit one or more assessment tasks) will be dealt with in one of the following ways;

3 Students will be required to complete the required task during recess or lunch as directed by staff (no mitigating circumstances). The student and the parent/guardian will be advised in writing if they are deemed to be at risk of receiving a grade lower than expected, as a result of non-completion or nonsubmission of an assessment task. extension of time will be granted to complete the task should the reason for non-completion be acceptable to staff an alternative task may be provided with an appropriate due date the missing task from the assessment outline will be removed where a professional judgement of the achievement of the student can be made based on the remaining tasks 7. Learning Area Assessment Policy Learning Areas may choose to develop their own assessment policy in accordance with the Harvey Senior High School Assessment Policy and Western Australia School Curriculum and Standards Authority guidelines. These policies must be approved by the Principal in the year prior to distribution to students. No guidelines contained in this policy will be altered by a Learning Area Policy. 8. Changing a subject/course The deadlines for WACE Course changes are published by SCSA. Harvey Senior High School will only consider a change in exceptional circumstances, as changing course or class can place the student at risk of not completing assessment requirements. Students must contact the Deputy Principal or Senior School Student Manager in order to make any subject changes. A Subject Change Form, signed by teachers, student and parents, must be completed to enable students to change classes. Lower school students do not have the ability to change their subjects. Where a student changes school during a school year, credit for the completion of work in the same subject/course will be given when the student and/or previous school supplies appropriate evidence. 9. Cheating, collusion and plagiarism Students found to have cheated or been involved with collusion or plagiarism in assessed work or in examinations will not have that work accepted as valid evidence of their achievement. Further school penalties may be applied where required. 10. Examinations and tests No assessment item or excursion will be set or required in the week prior to all school exams when students are involved in those exams. A copy of the school examination scheduled will be posted to parents no later than four (4) weeks prior to the Senior School examination week. Regulations When sitting examinations and tests, students must adhere to the regulations for that task. Details of regulations are issued with the examination or test (see attached appendix 1). Infringement of regulations will result in an appropriate penalty. Students with special educational needs must notify their teacher two (2) weeks prior to an examination so that appropriate arrangements can be made. These arrangements will be within SCSA requirements.

4 Attendance Students must attend scheduled examinations in the specified period. In exceptional circumstances, alternative arrangements may be negotiated with the Deputy Principal before the examination date. In cases where there is no satisfactory explanation of an absence from a specially scheduled assessment task (e.g. exam, test), or alternative arrangements cannot be made, an appropriate penalty will be supplied an E entered against the task. 11. Right of Appeal Students always have the right of appeal if they feel they have been unfairly assessed. Any student who believes that an injustice has occurred in their dealings with a teacher is entitled to seek a review. They should: raise the matter with the teacher concerned if the matter is not resolved, students are to forward their concerns to the relevant Deputy Principal who will investigate the complaint and make a decision on the merits of the case. A decision is required to be forwarded in writing to the student and staff member by the end of the following working week. The Principal retains the final right of arbitration. 12. Students with special needs Harvey Senior High School will ensure that students with special needs are catered for in appropriate ways and in accordance with SCSA guidelines. 13. Homework It is expected that homework, when given is completed. Students who continually choose not to complete their homework will be asked to do so in their breaks during school at recess or lunch. 14. Authentication Students are required to submit each assessment task with the Student Task Cover Sheet (see appendix 2) attached and completed. The purpose of the cover sheet is to ensure that both staff and students retain a record of the submission of the task and there is a traceable submission date. Students have the capacity to negotiate with staff that work can be submitted online via their official student address. This opportunity is at the discretion of individual staff. In accordance with SCSA regulations and Harvey Senior High School requirements, all students and parents/caregivers must sign the assessment policy and return it to school for a copy to be kept with student records. If you have any questions about this policy please contact the school, and speak to a member of the administration team. Please sign and return the enclosed page to acknowledge that you have received and read Harvey Senior High School: School Assessment Policy and Examination Policy

5 Appendix 1 HARVEY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL EXAMINATION POLICY Students will not be permitted to enter 30 minutes after the exam has started. NO allowances will be made for students who misread the timetable and miss an exam. Examinations will commence on time. It is suggested that you plan to be at the exam location 15 minutes before your scheduled exam. Reading time is 10 minutes. No notes may be made during reading time. No marking of the paper by pen, pencil, highlighter or any other item or the use of calculator is permitted during this period. School uniform is to be worn for all examinations. Pencil cases, files and mobile phones are not permitted into the examination room. Any student found taking a mobile phone into the exam room will be deemed cheating as mobile phones can be used to send text messages, and a E will be recorded. Permitted exam materials must be in a clear loose leaf plastic envelope. Borrowing by students is NOT permitted. Students must come to exams with spare pen/pencils, the correct calculator and any other materials as specified by their teachers. Eating is not permitted during the examination period but students may bring water into the exam in a clear bottle with the label removed. Students with a medical condition that requires food to be taken into exam rooms must provide a note from their doctor. Students must observe instructions given by the exam supervisor as well as those on the exam cover page. Students must sit in their allocated seat. Talking and passing information is not allowed in examinations. Students requiring help from the supervisor should raise their arm to attract attention. Students must remain in the exam room for the entire length of the exam period. Students may only leave the exam room in exceptional circumstances and under the supervision of a supervisor. Students who are doing 4 or more Stage 2 exams during the exam week will have normal classes suspended. They are not required to be on school grounds between exams. Should they wish to study in the school library they must sign in as a visitor at the front desk. Students sick on the day of an examination are required to notify the school that they will not be attending the exam and are required to provide a medical certificate. Their examinations will be re scheduled on their return to school.

6 Appendix 2 Student Task Cover Sheet Attach to Assessment Task Subject Code Assessment Number Due Date Date Submitted Subject Name: Teacher Name: Student Name: Student Student Declaration and Statement of Authorship: 1. I hold a photocopy or electronic copy (USB) of this assessment which can be produced if the original is lost/damaged. 2. This assessment is my original work and no part of it has been copied from any other student s work or from any other source except where due acknowledgement is made. 3. No part of this assessment has been written for me by any other person except where such collaboration has been authorised by the teacher concerned. 4. This work may be reproduced, communicated, compared and archived for the purpose of detecting plagiarism. I understand that: 1. Plagiarism is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person as though it is your own. It is a form of cheating and is a very serious academic offence. Penalties will apply. 2. Plagiarised material can be drawn from, and presented in, written, graphic and visual form, including electronic data, and oral presentations. Plagiarism occurs when the origin of the material is not appropriately cited. 3. Plagiarism includes the act of allowing another person to plagiarise or to copy my work. The teacher will retain this top section attached to submitted Assessment Task STUDENT S ASSESSMENT TASK RECEIPT Student Copy The teacher is to sign the appropriate shaded section. This is to confirm that you have submitted the task AND on the due date. If this sheet has not been signed by your class teacher then any appeal to this particular task will become void. Subject: Student Name: Date due: Task: Teacher Name: Date submitted:

7 HARVEY SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL SCHOOL ASSESSMENT POLICY Student name: Date: This form is to acknowledge I have received and read a copy of Harvey Senior High School Assessment Policy and Examination Policy. I am aware of my student s rights and responsibilities to these school policies. Parent/carer name: Date: Please return this form to Harvey Senior High School front office.