Dear Parents and Carers of Year 7,

 

Your child’s Year 7 report is now available to view in Arbor under Report Cards. As this is your child’s first year in Key Stage 3, we would like to explain how our reporting system differs from the approach used at Key Stage 2.

 

How KS3 Reporting Differs from KS2

At primary school, pupils were assessed against age‑related expectations for each year group. Reports focused on whether children were working towards, at, or above the expected standard for their age.

 

In secondary school, assessment works differently. At Key Stage 3, we start preparing students for the longer learning journey that leads to GCSEs in Year 11. As a result, reports include:

 

  • KS4 Target Grades (based on end‑of‑KS2 data and national benchmarks)
  • Progress Statements (describing how well your child is progressing toward those long‑term goals)
  • Attitude to Learning (capturing effort, behaviour for learning, and study habits)

 

This means your child’s report may look quite different from what you received in primary school.

Target Grades

Every Year 7 student receives a target grade for each subject. This indicates the minimum GCSE grade we would expect them to be aiming for by the end of Year 11.

 

For example, if a student has a target grade of 5, this is the starting point for expectations at GCSE level. These targets are generated using:

 

  • Key Stage 2 SATs results
  • Fischer Family Trust (FFT20) estimates based on the outcomes of students with similar prior attainment in high‑performing schools

 

Targets are not a limit. With commitment and good learning habits, many students exceed their expected grades. Targets are reviewed regularly throughout KS3 and KS4 as students’ progress becomes clearer.

 

Progress Statement

Progress at KS3 is described using three categories:

 

 

Attitude to Learning

Our Attitude to Learning criteria—created in collaboration with students and staff—can be found at the end of this letter. These descriptors focus on behaviours that lead to strong progress, such as organisation, participation, resilience, and readiness to learn.

 

We hope this information helps you understand how we assess and report on progress at Key Stage 3. Our aim is to work in partnership with families to ensure that every student is supported, challenged, and able to thrive throughout their secondary journey.

 

Year 7 Progress Evening, an opportunity for parents and carers to meet teachers and discuss students’ work, is calendared for Thursday 14 May 2026.

In the meantime, please get in touch with your child’s CREW leader or their individual subject teachers if you require any further information or support.

 

Kind regards,

 

Sarah Nelson

Assistant Headteacher