Background

Lisburne School, as a special school with a high demographic of complex SEND pupils, embraces a unique approach to education. Catering to students working predominantly at pre-national curriculum standards, their methodology often diverges from mainstream educational practices. Juniper Assessment Tracker is an instrumental tool adopted by the school to navigate these challenges and ensure every student receives a tailored, comprehensive education.

The Day-to-Day Practice

At the heart of Lisburne’s curriculum are two distinctive tracks. While their early years follow the EYFS framework, subsequent years see students divided between a pre-formal curriculum based on the engagement model and a three-path formal curriculum based on student needs.

Given the unique nature of student achievements, most of the tracking is done via photo evidence and descriptive write-ups rather than traditional recording methods. Teachers often use these materials to evidence progress, especially for those on the engagement model. For subjects within the three formal pathways, the Juniper Assessment Tracker is employed long-term.

However, due to the diverse needs of their students and the intricate details of their educational journey, progress isn’t always inputted daily. Teachers often assess achievements in blocks, such as when a topic or subject area is concluded. Furthermore, while certain objectives might be established on the Juniper Assessment Tracker, they are frequently broken down into smaller, more digestible steps tailored to each class’s specific pace and abilities.

The Role of the Juniper Assessment Tracker

The Juniper Assessment Tracker became an invaluable tool for the school. It provided a centralised system, ensuring consistent assessment methods across all subjects and effectively allowing teachers to demonstrate their understanding of pupils’ knowledge throughout the academic year.

In subjects like PE, which Richard led, the Juniper Assessment Tracker played a pivotal role in demonstrating pupils’ nuanced progress, as the subject’s progression doesn’t align with conventional subjects like maths.

Continuous Learning and Training 

Acknowledging that some functionalities and deeper analytics might be underutilised, the school showed interest in more comprehensive training. Juniper Assessment Tracker offers specialised one-on-one sessions and general webinars, allowing schools to choose their learning path.

The thirst for knowledge didn’t end at the platform itself. The SLT at Lisburne expressed interest in developing the comparison of year-on-year data, analysing standardisations, and evaluating different demographics. This sort of nuanced data investigation, especially when conveyed through valuable reports, can be instrumental in strategic decision-making and is currently completed by the Assessment coordinator using different data collection methods.

Conclusion

Lisburne School’s achievement of an ‘Outstanding’ grade is a testament to its dedication to excellence, its effective utilisation of the Juniper Assessment Tracker, and its proactive approach to understanding and meeting the ever-evolving requirements of Ofsted inspections. Their success story is a beacon, demonstrating how schools can adapt, innovate, and achieve outstanding results even in the most challenging environments.