When analysing assessment data, there are two tools that are often overlooked, but are simple, powerful, and very useful – the Aspect Analysis, and Result Set Analysis. These can help provide useful information that can help teachers view progress of key groups, evidence impact of interventions and identify where additional support may be required.
Aspect Analysis
An Aspect Analysis enables you to compare the distribution of grades across a number of Aspects. It can show the number or percentage of pupil/students from the selected group, who achieved each possible mark or grade, for each of the selected Aspects. In this case we will compare the distribution of achievement between GCSE subjects in Year 11.
First:
- Click Focus | Assessment | Aspect Analysis
- Click ‘New’ then choose your Pattern name. A Pattern is simply a collection of different aspects, brought together in a group to save you defining them separately each time. For example, Attainment Internal Key Stage 4
- Click next to select your ‘Column Pattern Type’ using the drop down to choose between Age, Grade, or Marks and select your Column Pattern, for example, GCSE Grades
- Click next to apply the filter for Group analysis, for example Year 11, entering the Group Membership Date Range, if required. By default this date is set to the current academic year
- Select Next, to choose the Result Set – for example Year 11 Autumn Result Set
- Select Next to choose your ‘Outcome Type’ for example, Count or Percentage – this can be defined now, or at a later stage
- Click ‘Finish’
- The final step is to populate the grid. Use the Group filter to choose the group to include in the analysis. You can select from a varied range including FSM, SEN Status, Term of Birth, ethnicity, language, national curriculum year group, school house, or gender
- Click ‘Populate Grid’ to pull through the chosen data.
You can change ‘Count’ to ‘Mean Value’, ‘Mean Grade’, ‘Percentage of Results’ and ‘Total’.
Click ‘Rows’ to look at the patterns. You can reorder these, create a new pattern, and edit existing patterns. You can do the same with Columns.
Result Set Analysis
A Result Set Analysis enables you to compare the results stored in a selection of Results Sets. It can show the number or percentage of pupil/students from the selected group, who achieved each possible mark or grade, for the selected Result Set(s).
First:
- Navigate to Focus | Assessment | Result Set Analysis
- Click ‘New’
- Select your ‘Pattern Name’, for example, ‘KS4 Termly Progress’
- Select Next and use the drop-down to select your required column pattern type which could be Grade, Age, Aspect or Marks
- Select your Column Pattern from the options available, for example GCSE Grades
- Select Next to define your Group for analysis via the filter for example, by year group, Year 11
- Select Next and choose your desired ‘Aspect’, for example KS4 attainment in Maths
- Select Next to choose the ‘Outcome Type’, as with the Aspect Analysis you have the choice of Count, Mean, Percentage or Total
- Click ‘Finish’.
The simple wizard driven process to produce both the Aspect Analysis and Results Set Analysis provides analysis of multiple groups on a single page, enabling teachers to view changes in results over time, allowing quick and simple monitoring of progress.
Do you want to know more?
Further detailed information can be found within the Managing Analysis handbook via the Exams & Assessment link within the SIMS Documentation centre. This can be accessed via the top right corner of your SIMS home page and by navigating to the handbooks, tutorials and quick reference sheets. You will also find a range of other useful handbooks, tutorials, and quick reference sheets relevant to your role within the SIMS Documentation centre.