AssessIt and the Pupil Achievement Tracker

I wrote to you in September 2005 (MI 168/05) explaining the arrangements for phasing out the use of AssessIt and for training key staff in schools in the use of the Pupil Achievement Tracker (PAT) to replace it. This was followed in October 2005 by MI 183/05, in which Chris Jackson explained the arrangements for getting started with PAT in more detail.

Since then, training in the use of PAT has been continuing, and many schools have been using it successfully to analyse their results, check pupil progress and undertake question-level analysis. Used effectively, PAT has been a great help to schools in understanding their performance, supporting self-evaluation and completing the SEF.

The next stage in the development of these online tools takes place in July, with the launch of RAISEonline. RAISEonline is the new package from the DfES and Ofsted that combines the facilities of PAT with the data and performance indicators currently found in the PANDA. There will be briefing and training sessions for schools in the summer and autumn terms, details of which will be sent to schools shortly. In the meantime, information about RAISEonline can be found on the Ofsted website: www.ofsted.gov.uk/schools/dataandinformationsystems.cfm.

Information, updates, support and tutorials for PAT can be found on the DfES website: www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/performance/pat/ where the program is also available as a free download.

ICT Solutions will continue to provide support with the transfer of data from Phoenix Gold, should this be required, and some basic support for AssessIt will continue until the end of the summer term 2006, after which it will be withdrawn. The license for the use of AssessIt, and the associated support arrangements, that were funded with the DfES grant in 2003, come to an end in March. From April, ICT Solutions will make arrangements to remove AssessIT from schools. This should be completed by September 2006.

Any school wishing to continue with the use of AssessIt after the end of March 2006 must contact ICT Solutions as a matter of urgency. The full cost of the licence, and of any training and support requirements, will need to be met by these schools, and appropriate arrangements must be made as soon as possible.

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 please contact ICT Solutions on 0845 303 3003.
  
  
• For matters relating to AssessIt (until the end of the summer term 2006), please contact ICT Solutions on 0845 303 3003.
  
  
• For advice about the use of PAT, please contact Robin Ings at the Professional Development Centre on 01603 433276 or Chris Jackson in the Management Information Centre on 01603 224223.
  
  
• For support with PAT, please visit the PAT Website: www.standards.dfes.gov.uk/performance/pat/
  
  
• For information about RAISEonline, please contact Chris Jackson in the Management Information Centre on 01603 224223.