School Grading/Assessment System
I. EDUCATIONAL REQUIREMENTS
The priority at Szczecin International School are International Programmes: IPC in Primary, IGCSE in the Middle school and IB in the Diploma grades. The three levels at school follow these Programmes
and grade/assess according to them.
1. At the beginning of each school year the form teacher informs pupils and parents (guardian) about the grading criteria in behavior and learning progress.
2. At the beginning of each school year the teacher informs pupils about the educational requirements which come from the planned teaching programme and also about the ways of verifying a pupil's educational achievements and grading criteria.
II. RULES CONCERNING ASSESSING/LEARNING PROGRESS
1. Conditions for preparing tests and writing work/ assessments
a) a test, which covers one (or more than one) unit should be announced at least one week before (preferably two weeks) and it should be preceded by a revision/ revision planning which will cover the material and skills that will be checked
b) a test which is used to determine a current diagnosis is not subject to the above mentioned rules
c) when discussing the test the teacher needs to give the grading criteria (percentages and the corresponding grade)
d) if the student due to unfortunate circumstances, could not write the test it is his/her responsibility to do so at another time (unless the teacher decides something else), agreed with the teacher no later than two weeks from the test. In cases when a student doesn't meet the deadline because of unjustified absences the teacher can give an unsatisfactory grade.
e) if the student's absences during the test are unjustified, the teacher can give an unsatisfactory grade
f) if the teacher finds out that the student is cheating, she/he has the right to stop the test and give the student an unsatisfactory grade
g) if the student due to unfortunate circumstances, could not deliver the work in the indicated time (it covers all subjects) it is her/his responsibility to do so in another time agreed with the teacher but no later than two weeks from the first deadline. In cases when a student doesn't meet the deadline because of unjustified absences the teacher can give an unsatisfactory grade.
h) Students are responsible for finding out what was covered in each lesson even if they were absent from that lesson. Students need to be prepared for all lessons.
i) Students may come to the teachers to ask for help for any assignment that is due but must do so no later than the day before the due date.
j) It is not teacher's responsibility to prepare in advance any materials for students whose parents plan to take their child from the school due to unfortunate/various circumstances.
2. Grading frequency:
a) Semester and yearly grades should be given on the basis of at least 8- 10 separate grades of these more should be grades of independent student's work done/covered during the lessons.
b) Grades must be regularly written into the register.
c) Detailed grading criteria and other issues concerning non-preparation for the lesson should be defined by the subject teacher.
d) As well as grading Primary have Ongoing Assessment throughout the year in various subjects which is recorded on prepared sheets.
3. Rules concerning improving unfavourable grades
a) The subject teacher defines the rules on how to improve unfavourable grades at the beginning of the school year.
b) A student or his/her parents (guardians) can express their reservations to the teacher,(coordinator should be informed) then to the school head, if they think that the final behaviour or subject grade was given against the rules.
c) The reservations must be expressed within 7 days of receiving the grade (the deadline for giving the semester/final grade is two days before the General Staff meeting).
d) In cases when the final grade was given against the rules the headmaster will appoint a commission which will examine the student in writing and verbally and determine the final subject grade.
III. GRADING
1. Appealing against the semester / final grade
1.1. A student/parent can appeal against the subject or behaviour grade within 7 days from giving the grade when:
a) The teacher hasn't informed the students and parents/guardians about the grading criteria.
b) Due to the fault of the teacher the student has not been informed about the grade given within the defined time (2 days before the General Staff meeting).
c) The teacher hasn't asked all the staff (teachers, self-evaluation by the students) when giving the grade.
1.2. A student / parent has not got the right to appeal against a grade given when:
a) During the school year the parent/guardian has not been interested in the student's progress in learning (was absent during the parent – teacher meetings, hasn't had contact with the teacher even after calling the school).
b) They haven't been informed of the grade due to child absenteeism in the school two days before the General Staff meeting and hasn't contacted the form teacher in that case.
IV. RULES OF INFORMING STUDENTS AND PARENTS ABOUT PROGRESS IN LEARNING
1. Grades are official both for students and for parents / guardian. The student is informed about the grade when it is given.
2. Written assessments checked and graded are kept by the teacher till the end of the school year.
3. Written assessments checked and graded are school documents and are available for parents to see in the school during a Parent-Teacher meeting arranged in advance. The teacher doesn't have to copy the work and give to the student to take home.
4. One month before the final General Staff meeting teachers are obligated to inform students about their predicted grade for the end of semester and final. Predicted grades will be put into a "Predicted grade" card.
5. One month before the semester and final General Staff meeting parents/guardian should be informed in written form about unsatisfactory grades.
6. Twice during the year students will receive cards with separate grades from all subjects during the middle of each semester.
7. Parent/Teacher meetings throughout the year:
a) Primary
- first meeting in the middle of the semester
- second meeting at the end of first semester
- third meeting at the end of second semester
b) Upper school
- first meeting at the end of first semester
- second meeting in the middle of the semester.
8. Taking into account the above stated points concerning contact with parents, and grading/assessment, any other meeting between parents and teachers must be fixed with each teacher in advance by phone and only in exceptional/special cases.
