How's my child getting on at school? We know this will be important to you as a parent. At Sompting Abbotts Prep School, assessment of our pupils is followed closely.

a small group of key stage 1 children learning maths at sompting abbotts independent school in sussex

Your child in the Pre-Prep

This starts with Early Years profiles which give us a guide to capabilities and strengths. We compare your child’s progress against national standards. Children in the Pre-Prep are given informal classroom-based testing throughout the year. They're also tested more formally on their progress through the Schonell reading and GL maths tests.

Our small teaching groups mean our staff can pinpoint where your child needs extra support. We provide two full reports each year and formal Parents’ Evenings take place once a year. But our teachers are always happy to discuss any queries or concerns you have before or after school.

Our pupils do well against national outcomes and we ensure that our curriculum prepares them well for these assessments but do this without 'teaching to the test'.

Your child in the Main School

year 8 pupils learning maths at sompting abbotts independent school in sussex

Your child will begin to experience more formal assessments in Main School. To assist with tracking your child's progress, we set Verbal and Non-Reasoning Nfer (National Foundation for Educational Research) tests in Year 3, Year 6 and Year 8. 

In Years 3-6, your child will sit Summer Term examinations set by GL Assessment in Maths, English and Science. These are marked by external examiners. They allow us to receive for each child a detailed breakdown as to what each student is achieving in each subject according to the levels set by the National Curriculum. Teachers receive detailed feedback for each child and you as a parent will also be sent an informative email from the examiners.

Autumn term assessments

  • Years 3-8 sit examinations in November of the Autumn term.
  • For Year 3 children, these are in English, Maths and French only.
  • For Year 4 and 5 children, these are in all academic subjects.
  • For Year 6 children, these are aimed at CE 11+ level.
  • For Year 7 children and Year 8 students working towards CE 13+, these are of a Common Entrance standard. Scholarship students will undertake Scholarship past papers.

Spring term assessments

  • Verbal Reasoning and Non-Verbal Reasoning for Years 3, 6 and 8 done in lesson time.
  • Only Common Entrance and Scholarship students have mock examinations after half-term. However, Lancing College Scholarship students will sit their actual Scholarship examinations in February.

Summer term assessments

  • For Year 3 children, these are in English, Maths and French only.
  • For Year 4 and 5 children, these are in all academic subjects.
  • For Year 6 children, these are aimed at CE 11+ level.
  • (GL Assessments are carried out in lesson time)
  • For Year 7 children working towards CE 13+, these are of a Common Entrance standard.
  • The majority of Scholarship students sit their examinations in May.
  • Common Entrance students sit their examinations in early June.  

Twice-yearly reports

  • In Main School, detailed reports are sent home at the end of the Autumn and Summer Terms.
  • Concise report sheets are sent home at the end of the Spring Term.

Parents' Evenings

In Main School, parents’ evenings in the Spring Term are as follows:

  • Year 3 parents have a pre-booked one-to one meeting with Mrs Kelly to discuss their child’s progress.
  • Year 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 parents book slots using online forms to see staff after school on an evening in the Spring term.