PiXL
At Hethersett Woodside Primary and Nursery School we are driven by a deep moral purpose to enable all pupils to fulfil their potential. By using PIXL (Partners in Excellence) effectively, we are able to forensically analyse data to identify a multitude of information which all plays a significant part in ensuring success for each child.
Raising Standards Leader (RSL):
The role of the Raising Standards Leader is to ensure the best possible outcomes and progress for all our children across KS1 and KS2. In doing this, the RSL supports staff in their understanding of PIXL and how to use it effectively. The RSL also provides challenge with regards to data and identifying key marginal children. After each round of assessments, the RSL will provide data reports to each year group to assist in identifying those children. The RSL attends pupil progress meetings to provide support and challenge, where necessary.
Termly Assessments:
Years 2-6 complete a PIXL assessment for Reading, Grammar and Maths each term. Teachers are responsible for completing and uploading the associated question level analysis (QLA) documents in line with the annual agreed PIXL dates to allow school-to-school comparison.
Year 1 complete this process in the spring and summer terms.
It is important to note that all PIXL assessments should be completed on an independent basis as any support given could compromise the data and therefore the children identified as key marginals. Of course, consideration should be given to children who require specialist support so all children can access their assessments, where possible.
Diagnose, Therapy, Test, Revisit (DTTR):
Teachers use the QLA documents to identify specific gaps for individual children, small groups and the whole class. PIXL therapies, specifically designed to address curriculum objectives, are used for their intended audiences. However, it is important to note at this point that PIXL is used among other useful resources, such as Testbase, Ninja Comprehension and other forms of low stakes quizzes to ensure that children get plenty of opportunities to practise the skills required to achieve specific objectives. PIXL therapy tests are then used to inform teachers if these gaps have been successfully closed or if there is further practise required for particular children. If therapy tests suggest that gaps have been closed, it is imperative that teachers plan in revisiting opportunities across the curriculum to ensure that this learning is securely embedded.
PIXL Grades:
Throughout the academic year, teachers use the DTTR process to constantly monitor their pupils’ PIXL grades (see language of assessment definitions below). This monitoring is an ongoing process where PIXL grades can be amended as regularly as teachers feel necessary to ensure that pupils’ needs are met in a timely manner. However, pupils’ PIXL grades are always updated after an assessment window and uploaded to Arbor, being used to monitor pupils’ progress in our termly pupil progress meetings.
PiXL Language of Assessment Years 1-6:
KS2 Progress:
As part of our assessment administration, end of KS1 assessment is updated
annually on Arbor. This allows each teacher to be fully aware of their pupils’
prior attainment to ensure that this is taken into account when considering
which children are key marginals. For example: a pupil in Year 4 who
achieved GDS (greater depth) at the end of KS1 in maths and is currently an
E1 on PIXL should possibly be identified as a key marginal as their progress is
below expected.