There has been a lot in the news recently about the recovery of academic attainment in post-Covid UK and where schools, both state and independent, are having the greatest impact on their young learners. Whether it’s CATs, SATs, or Progress 8, it can be hard to decipher what is actually meant when we talk about ‘added value’ in our schools.
At Sheffield Girls’, we believe every child should make excellent progress, whatever their starting point. When we talk about added value in our Infant and Junior School, we mean the difference our teaching makes to each pupil’s learning journey: how much further they go with us than they might have expected to at the beginning.
From the very start in Reception, we carefully monitor progress against early learning goals so that we can celebrate successes and identify where extra support may help. As pupils move into Year 1 and beyond, we use simple baseline assessments in Mathematics and English to give us a picture of each child’s strengths and the areas she may need to develop. These are not tests for our pupils to be worried about. They are just tools to help our teachers set realistic, individual targets and ensure that every child is challenged at the right level.
Throughout the year, teachers meet regularly with school leaders to review each pupil’s progress in Reading, Writing and Mathematics. This means we can respond quickly and provide either additional support or further stretch. Older girls also take age-appropriate assessments that help us understand their potential in areas such as verbal, non-verbal and spatial reasoning.
At the end of each year, we review progress against the starting point to see the true impact of a Sheffield Girls’ education. This careful, nurturing approach ensures that our pupils not only achieve excellent academic outcomes but also develop the confidence, curiosity and resilience, skills which prepare them so well for the Senior School and life beyond.
The difference is even more striking when a pupil joins us from the very beginning. Starting in Reception means that girls benefit from our approach to teaching and learning right from their earliest years, building strong foundations and developing a love of learning that stays with them as they move through the school. With every stage carefully building on the one before, they grow in confidence and ability year by year.
Our ‘Melbournians’, those girls who spend their full 14 years with us, are a wonderful example of the power of this continuity. They arrive in the Sixth Form not only with exceptional academic results but also with the maturity, independence and leadership qualities that set them apart. The long journey from Reception through to Year 13 gives them an extraordinary advantage and they leave Sheffield Girls’ not just ready for the next stage, but already flourishing as confident, capable young women.
