At Holyhead School, assessment plays a key role in helping us understand how well our curriculum is working and how each student is progressing. It allows teachers to identify individual strengths and areas for improvement, enabling them to adjust teaching during the lesson and make informed changes to future planning.

We use regular, low-stakes assessment in every lesson to support learning. This includes:

• Retrieval practice at the start of lessons to help students recall key knowledge
• Targeted questioning to check understanding across a wide range of learners
• Whole-class questioning using techniques like hinge questions, mini-whiteboards, and online quiz platforms
• Exit tickets to review learning at the end of a lesson and inform planning for the next

All year groups at Holyhead School take part in two key assessment points each academic year. These formal assessments help us monitor progress, evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum, and identify areas where students may need further support or challenge.

In preparation for these assessments, students receive clear guidance on what to revise, along with access to high-quality revision materials. We actively encourage all learners to use the Fundamental Four revision strategies to help them retain and apply knowledge effectively:

1. brain dumps
2. mind mapping
3. revision cards
4. self-quizzing

This structured approach ensures that assessment is purposeful, supports learning, and helps every student work towards achieving their full potential.

Our approach ensures that assessment is meaningful, supportive, and focused on helping every student succeed.