Monitoring Student Progress and Student Tracking

Priestley College wants every individual student to exceed their potential and therefore we place considerable importance on the ability to track and monitor students' progress and to use data to assist students in monitoring their own progress and learning.
The methods used by the College, including the use of 'Minimum Expected Grades' (known as MEGs), are carefully explained to full time students during their first term at the college, and a booklet explaining the system is given to parents to assist them to understand the process.

Subject staff and Personal Tutors play a key role in helping students manage their own performance. The key features of the system are noted below:

• We place a very high priority on excellent attendance. Electronic registers are kept for all lessons (not just at the start of the morning and afternoon). We employ 'Student attendance trackers' to contact by telephone, on the same day, those students who do not attend classes and have not informed the College of the reason for their absence. Any student whose performance or attendance is giving cause for concern is referred to their Personal Tutor. All queries and outcomes are logged by Personal Tutors in the students' personal file, and parents are informed as judged appropriate according to the disciplinary procedure.

• We use a formative value-added system, whereby Minimum Expected Grades are set for students, against which current performance can be measured and evaluated. The Minimum Expected Grades are based on national performance data.

• Induction reports are produced in mid-October for all new students, and an 'Induction Evening' is held for the parents of these students.

• On at least three occasions in the year, information on performance, in the form of an estimated grade, is collected, along with further information on attendance, effort, deadlines and participation in classes. A copy of the data is given to students by their personal tutor to take home and share with parents/guardians.

• Students and parents are fully involved in this system, and are informed about it early in their course. Issues surrounding performance are discussed at reviews, which for two-year students, take place twice a year. Reviews are timed to precede formal subject reports, which in turn are followed by a Parents' Consultation Evening.