Configuring Attitude to Learning Categories e.g. Pastoral data (Admin)

Attitude to Learning (AtL) is an optional feature within Analytics, which allows you to analyse pastoral data in the reports, by configuring up to three AtL categories (such as Effort, Homework, Behaviour, etc.), each containing up to 10 judgements.

Planning your AtL Categories

Before creating your AtL categories, we recommend considering how you would like these to appear in the reports. AtL allows you to import different judgements for each student, in each qualification they have an attainment grade for. For example, you could import different homework judgements based on their performance in each particular qualification. When configuring an AtL category, you can enter:

• Up to 10 judgements (maximum of 2 characters, e.g. “Ex”, “A”, “1”, etc.)
• Judgement text (maximum of 15 characters, e.g. “Excellent”)
• A points value for each judgement (you can enter negative points, so this can be any value between -100 to 100 and up to 2 decimal places)
• Select an optional colour for each judgement (to highlight in the reports)

In the reports, you can then analyse judgements individually for each student, or aggregated figures, such as average points, average judgement or total points for groups, faculties, qualifications, classes or students. For more information of the analysis available, see our articles for KS3/4 Reports - Attitude to Learning (AtL) or KS5 Reports: AtL (Attitude to Learning).

Configuring Attitude to Learning

To configure an AtL category, click CONFIG. > Attitude to Learning.

If you would like to use the same AtL configuration across KS3/4 and KS5, click the toggle to disable. Then, click ‘Configure’ next to one of the categories to begin.

If you want different AtL configuration between the two key stages, you can leave the toggle enabled and you will be able to create 3 categories for KS3/4 and 3 for KS5, displayed in separate tables on this page.

1 / Set up Attitude to Learning Category

First, enter a clear and appropriate category name, e.g. ‘Homework’, which will pull through when importing AtL judgements alongside your grades into a data set or assessment. Then select how aggregated figures will be displayed, and a desired sort order, explained below.

Aggregated Figures Displayed As 
Here you can choose how summarised AtL figures will be displayed in the reports. For example, if you were looking at a summary of Homework for a group, faculty, qualification, or class, would you like this to be displayed as average points, average judgement, total points, or not at all?

• Average Points – The average of the points of each judgement that pupils are awarded in the AtL category. For example, this may be useful when analysing ‘Homework’, comparing the average for different students or qualifications.
• Average Judgement – The average of the points of each judgement that pupils are awarded in the AtL category, expressed as the equivalent judgement. For example, this may be useful when analysing ‘Behaviour’ as the aggregated figure is expressed as a judgement highlighted with the colour assigned to that judgement when set up.
• Total Points – The total points of each of the judgement’s pupils are awarded. For example, this could be useful for analysing ‘Intervention’ (where each intervention has 1 point), to display the total Intervention points and highlight students most in need.
• Hidden – For categories you do not wish to use points or calculate aggregated values for. Hidden judgements are ranked by the order you enter them in step 2. You can re-order these once the category has been created (covered below).

Sort Order *Not applicable for ‘Hidden’ aggregated figures
This determines which order judgements will be sorted in based on points values entered. This will affect analysis when using the ‘Sort’ functionality in the reports and colour coding when using comparison functionality.

• Ascending – Judgements with lower points will be considered better than those with higher points. For example, an upper limit on ‘Behaviour’ points could be used to see if a threshold is being reached.
• Descending – Judgements with higher points will be considered better than those with lower points. For example you may wish to see which students have higher aggregated points for ‘Homework’ or similar, where higher points is seen as a positive.

Then, click Next.

2 / Set up Judgements

Next, you must define up to 10 judgements and associated judgement text that you wish the category to use. Judgements can have a maximum of 2 characters, whereas judgement text can have a maximum of 15 characters.

If you chose to hide aggregated figures in step 1, the order in which you enter them here will determine their ranking.

If you chose to display aggregated figures in step 1, you must also enter points. Points can be any value between -100 to 100, up to 2 decimal places. 

Next, apply an optional colour selection to each judgement using the colour wheel, which will appear in the reports. You can then double check the preview.

Then, click ‘Save’.

You’ll then be presented with the Attitude to Learning Detail page, providing an overview of your AtL category. To make changes, click ‘Reconfigure’ or click 'Back to Attitude to Learning Summary' to view a list of your AtL categories and create more if needed.

For further information on importing your Attitude to Learning judgements, take a look at our article - Importing Attitude to Learning Judgements (Admin).

Re-Order Hidden Aggregated Figures

If you have selected for your aggregated figures to be displayed as ‘Hidden’ in step 1, judgements will be ranked based on the order they’re entered.

To change this order, click ‘Reorder’ on the Attitude to Learning Detail page:

Then click the arrows to reorder the judgements. When you have finished, click ‘Save’.

Managing Categories

Once you’ve configured your AtL categories, these can be amended if needed. To amend the name, click the blue pencil icon. You can also deactivate a category by clicking on the red pause icon so that this is no longer available for importing judgements into, however existing judgements will still remain in your published reports. You can activate this again by clicking the green play icon and your previous set up will be remembered.
You also have the option to copy categories between keystages. This may be useful if your AtL category set up is similar, but perhaps has some minor changes you need to make.

If you need to amend the category itself, for example to amend the judgements, sort order, or change how the aggregated figures are displayed, click the ‘AtL Category Name’ and click the ‘Reconfigure’ button. This will take you back to the first step where you can now amend the judgement accordingly.

Thanks for reading!