Management Information Sheet
Assess IT and the Pupil Achievement Tracker
In Norfolk, we have long recognised that schools need to use detailed pupil level data to monitor performance and to support school improvement, including the whole process of setting targets. As a result, in 2003, some DfES funding that became available was used to purchase AssessIT for this purpose. At the time, AssessIT was the best available software for this purpose, and had the added benefit of using data held in the Phoenix Gold system to enable powerful data analysis and target setting at school and individual pupil level.
In the Autumn of 2003, the DfES produced its own software, the Pupil Achievement Tracker (PAT), which performed substantially the same tasks as AssessIT, and it was sent free to all schools.
Our considered view at that time, which we shared with schools in a Management Information Sheet, was that the range of features and ease of use of AssessIT made it a superior product. We also acknowledged, however, that the DfES was committed to significant further development of PAT and that it was likely to become the 'standard tool' for most schools within a few years.
During the past two years, PAT has developed very considerably, and the time has now come for us to work with schools to make the change from AssessIT. In particular, the provision of each school's pupil-level data direct from the DfES for import into PAT simplifies the data transfer process. The inclusion of a range of contextual value added (CVA) indicators and the planned merge of PAT with the PANDA from September 2006 make it timely to begin the process now. This will give schools the opportunity to use PAT to support the data analysis needed for the completion of the SEF, and for the Target Setting process later this term.
In order to help schools with the changeover, we have put in place a range of briefing sessions this term. Information about this will be sent to schools shortly but, if you need further information or advice at this stage please contact Robin Ings (Primary) or John Spradbery (Secondary) at the Norwich Professional Development Centre on 01603 433276 and they will be pleased to try and help. Further information, support and tutorials are also available on the DfES website (www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/performance/pat/) from where the program is also available as a free download.
Following this change, ICT Solutions will continue to provide support with the transfer of data from Phoenix Gold, should this be required. Support for AssessIT will continue until the end of the Easter term 2006, after which it will be withdrawn.
I hope this is clear, but if you have questions or need to discuss this further, the following officers will be pleased to try and help:
In the Autumn of 2003, the DfES produced its own software, the Pupil Achievement Tracker (PAT), which performed substantially the same tasks as AssessIT, and it was sent free to all schools.
Our considered view at that time, which we shared with schools in a Management Information Sheet, was that the range of features and ease of use of AssessIT made it a superior product. We also acknowledged, however, that the DfES was committed to significant further development of PAT and that it was likely to become the 'standard tool' for most schools within a few years.
During the past two years, PAT has developed very considerably, and the time has now come for us to work with schools to make the change from AssessIT. In particular, the provision of each school's pupil-level data direct from the DfES for import into PAT simplifies the data transfer process. The inclusion of a range of contextual value added (CVA) indicators and the planned merge of PAT with the PANDA from September 2006 make it timely to begin the process now. This will give schools the opportunity to use PAT to support the data analysis needed for the completion of the SEF, and for the Target Setting process later this term.
In order to help schools with the changeover, we have put in place a range of briefing sessions this term. Information about this will be sent to schools shortly but, if you need further information or advice at this stage please contact Robin Ings (Primary) or John Spradbery (Secondary) at the Norwich Professional Development Centre on 01603 433276 and they will be pleased to try and help. Further information, support and tutorials are also available on the DfES website (www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/performance/pat/) from where the program is also available as a free download.
Following this change, ICT Solutions will continue to provide support with the transfer of data from Phoenix Gold, should this be required. Support for AssessIT will continue until the end of the Easter term 2006, after which it will be withdrawn.
I hope this is clear, but if you have questions or need to discuss this further, the following officers will be pleased to try and help:
- For support with Phoenix Gold and AssessIT, please contact ICT Solutions on 0845 303 3003.
- For advice about the use of PAT, please contact Chris Jackson in the Management Information Centre on 01603 224223.
- If you need further clarification, or have comments, please contact David Orsborne at the Norwich Professional Development Centre on 01603 433276.