Pupil Profile Overview

This resource is designed to support teachers as they become familiar with the Pupil Profile. It will begin by giving an overview of the process. It will also offer information about a computer based diagnostic assessment that will eventually be used by most pupils in Years 4-7 and a report writer tool which teachers can choose to use if they think it will be helpful.

Let’s start by finding out a little more about the Pupil Profile and what it does.

The Pupil Profile is a process of assessing and reporting, providing information for Teachers, Parents and Pupils.

For Teachers, it improves communication with other teachers and parents and better informs the planning of learning and teaching.

For Parents – it helps them to support their child’s learning at home. It also informs their decisions throughout their child’s school career, including their choice of post-primary school.

And finally for Pupils, it maximises co-operation between parents and teachers, offering consistent support both at home and in school.

Let’s look now at what is involved in the Pupil Profile.

There are a number of requirements.

Computer based diagnostic assessment will be completed by Year 4-7 pupils in the autumn term of each year.

Schools should also offer a parent meeting. For Years 1-3 the timing is flexible and will be decided by the school. For Years 4-7 this meeting should take place in the autumn term.

An Annual Pupil Profile Report should be sent home before the end of the school year for all Year 1-7 pupils.

These requirements will be phased in over a three year period. We’ll come back to this in more detail later.

Every primary school age pupil will receive an Annual Pupil Profile Report each year. There are different types of report which reflect the age and individual needs of the pupil. Let me explain.

Year 1 and 2 pupils, will get the Annual Pupil Profile Report for the Foundation stage

Year 3 to 7 pupils will receive the Annual Pupil Profile report (Key Stage 1 and 2)

The only difference between these two is that in Foundation Stage teachers report on Physical Development and Movement and in Key Stage 1 and 2 on Physical Education.

An Alternative Annual Pupil Profile Report has been designed by specialist teachers for reporting on pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties (PMLD)

Pupils with severe learning difficulties (SLD) can be reported on using whichever of these three formats is most appropriate. This decision will be made by schools in discussion with parents.

As well as the Annual Pupil Profile report, parents will receive a Pupil Profile Summary.

This summary will be completed for:

  • Year 7 pupils transferring to new post-primary schools.
  • Pupils with profound and multiple learning difficulties or severe learning difficulties changing schools at any stage.

Now you know what the Pupil Profile is, what it does, who it is for and what the requirements are. Just let me finish by telling you about when all of this is going to happen.

Pupil Profile will be implemented as follows:

  • 2007 to 2008 will involve Years 1 and 5. Year 5 pupils will complete the computer based diagnostic assessments. Year 1 and Year 5 parents will be offered a parent meeting and will receive Annual Pupil Profile reports before the end of the school year.
  • 2008 to 2009 will extend to include Years 2 and 6. Year 6 pupils will complete the computer based diagnostic assessments. Year 2 and Year 6 parents will be offered a parent meeting and receive Annual Pupil Profile reports before the end of the school year.
  • By 2009 to 2010 all Year 1-7 pupils will be included. Year 4-7 pupils will complete the computer based diagnostic assessments. Year 1 to Year 7 parents will be offered a parent meeting and will receive Annual Pupil Profile reports before the end of the school year.

This phased implementation process will give teachers more time to build the Pupil Profile into learning and teaching.

Thanks for listening!

For information about a computer based diagnostic assessment that will eventually be used by most pupils in Years 4-7. Click on Using InCAS on the left of your screen.