18/1/2010

Ref: PP010

Further to the imminent 2010 Government requirement for every secondary school to address the Assessing Pupil Progress (APP) framework, Prime Principle (stand SW114) is launching its online interactive markbook Classroom Monitor. Already used by 1200 Primary schools, the revised version of Classroom Monitor designed for secondary schools has been tailored to meet the specific demands for Key Stage 3-4 assessment.  In addition to the ability to record each student’s on-going assessment, the intuitive and easy-to-use tool, enables teachers to add ‘evidence’ and ‘content’ elements to also address Assessment for Learning (AfL).

Prime Principle’s team of experts have worked closely with secondary schools in 80 UK Local Authorities and throughout British international schools in eight countries to understand the specific needs and elements required to efficiently monitor secondary student development. Schools currently using the system are reaping the benefits for addressing the ‘APP’ framework. The tool provides the opportunity to spot issues individual students might be experiencing, as and when they occur, rather than relying on end-of-term tests.

Elaine Turner, Head of Maths at Wyedean School comments: "With the abolition of SATs, APP introduces a process of structured periodic assessment to enable teachers to track each student's progress. It aims to develop teachers' skills in assessing standards of attainment and the progress student's have made. In our piloting of Classroom Monitor, we found it easier using this tool to undertake the periodic assessment that is necessary to review students' ongoing work and relate it to National Curriculum levels. Tracking an individual's performance using Classroom Monitor's data helps teachers to identify and plan for the next steps in each student's learning.”

All secondary schools are required to meet the 2010 target for delivering the APP framework whereby they are required to follow a three-stage cycle relating to assessment. Firstly, they are required to periodically ‘consider’ significant written and oral evidence of a pupil’s attainment; secondly ‘review’ the evidence using the assessment guidelines and finally ‘judge’ and asses overall subject levels to consider whether performance is high, secure or low within the level. Classroom Monitor complements these processes and gives teachers the chance to update the system as part of organised one-to-one sessions with the students. The software application is designed to be a flexible platform, removing the burden of paper-based ongoing assessment. The solution works in hand with the chosen syllabus and its easy-to-use interface permits authorised staff and students to upload work to illustrate that an attainment has been met. Reports can be generated from the data input into the system and used to give a granular view of each student’s development and viewed by senior staff and parents to address areas requiring attention.

Chris Scarth, Director at Prime Principle, comments: “The ability for students and teachers to share and upload examples of work, against certain attainments, promises to create a stronger dialogue between them as well as generate a bank of evidence to demonstrate how well students are progressing. Secondary schools using Classroom Monitor are able to stimulate the students’ learning and can benefit from the time saved in traditional paper-based reporting or end of term assessment.”

Classroom Monitor costs approximately £1200 per year dependent on the size of the secondary school and encompasses a full site licence including technical support and updates. For further information or a demonstration of this product or the primary school version of the tool in your school, please contact Chris Scarth, Commercial Director at Prime Principle on Tel: 0844 5555 211, e-mail: cscarth@primeprinciple.co.uk or visit the website at www.classroommonitor.co.uk. 

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