Target-Setting and Tracking: Following Your Child’s Progress
When it comes to national examinations everyone wants young people to do as well as they possibly can. Secondary schools encourage pupils to set ambitious but achievable targets for the subjects they are studying in S3 and beyond. Schools then tracks pupils' progress against the agreed targets.
The main stages in this process are:
- In early S3 teachers and pupils agree on targets for exams that pupils will sit at the end of S4. These targets are negotiated on the basis of information that the class teacher has about the pupil; drawn from S1-S2 reports, test results, and any other relevant information. Schools always want pupils to be ambitious and to set their sights high.
- These targets will be on a 1-6 scale, with 1 representing the very highest level of attainment.
- Throughout S3 and S4 teachers will provide reports on pupils' progress towards their targets ("tracking reports"). Crucially, they will work with any pupil who is falling behind to get them back "on target".
- A similar process is repeated in S5 and S6.
How can parents help with target-setting and tracking?
- Make sure that you know what your child's exam targets are. Talk to them about their targets. Talk to the school if you have any questions about the targets.
- Find out when target reports are due (usually two in S3 and another two in S4) and go over them with your child. If, for any reason, your child is not on target in a subject look at the advice given by the class teacher on steps to improve.
- Target-setting information will be the basis for discussions at parents' evenings. Try to attend these meetings.
- If your child is not on target across several subject areas there may be underlying reasons for this. The school may invite you to a meeting to discuss these and to consider what the next steps may be. Do try to attend, as your participation and views will be helpful.
This is all about partnership, getting involved in your child's education and helping them do as well as they can in national exams!
