EAPs (Expected Attainment Pathways) must be created in Analytics as they are used to define the grade method for each qualification. However, you are also able to enter expected grades into your EAPs to produce On Track functionality in the reports, allowing you to see how students are currently performing in relation to their expected grades.
What functionality does entering expected grades into EAPs provide?
- On/Above/Below Track Analysis (KS3/4 and KS5)
This compares the students’ grades uploaded into a particular data set (e.g. their latest assessment) to the grades they are expected to achieve in that term (based on the grades entered within the EAPs). For example, if a student is expected to achieve a grade 5 in Term 1 and achieves a 6, they would be seen as ‘above track’.
This allows performance to be easily filtered in the reports by on/above, above, on or below track. The below example shows this in the KS3/4 Reports:
- Sisra Basic Projections (KS3/4 only)
Allows schools to see the grades that students might achieve at the end of KS4 and therefore their contribution towards school headline figures, based on their current attainment and expected grades. For information on SBP, please see our article here.
- Student Flight Paths (KS3/4 only)
These provide a graphical representation of individual students’ performance in a data set to their expected performance (EAP grade).
We have included an example of this below, using fictitious expected grades.
What baselines can be used in an EAP?
You are able to use any form of grade data you have to create your EAPs, whether that be assessment grades, target grades or even any internal testing you may have done at your school. We've found that the most popular setup is Target based EAPs (which we've used for the examples below) but we also have an article available here which covers other types of baselines that can be used.
This means you can have separate EAPs for each qualification based on the students targeted performance in that specific qualification. When entering expected grades, you could then use one of the following approaches:
- Flat Line Approach
A flat line approach is designed to reflect how a student is expected to remain on the same grade throughout their flight path, allowing you to measure if they are on, above or below their target instantly in the reports. As shown in the example below, a student targeted a grade 8 at the end of KS4, has the same grade 8 entered each term across the EAP.
Similarly in KS5, below is an example of a GCE A Level EAP with a flat line approach:
- Linear Approach
A linear approach is where the student’s grade and performance is expected to increase gradually over time. As shown in the example below, a student targeted a grade 8 at the end of KS4 is shown to gradually improve over time (7= in Y11 Term 1, 7+ in Y11 Term 2, and so forth) until they reach their end goal.
|
We have created a dedicated article which goes over in full how to set up EAPs with a Target-based approach. This is handy to follow if you are interested in this approach, or you are not quite certain in what to use as your baselines, whilst still getting the full functionality EAPs have to offer. FAQ: How do I create Target-based EAPs?
If you would prefer more guidance on this, our Sisra Consultants have designed a self-learning module on The Benefits of Setting Up and Using Target Based EAPs for Sisra administrators and staff with responsibility for managing KS3/4 data within Analytics, or with responsibility for managing the assessment processes within school, who are looking to get the most value out of the EAP functionality. |
We don’t plan to enter expected grades, what do we do next?
If it is the case you only want to create basic EAPs to complete the setup, you only need to create one EAP per grade type awarded in a cohort, so you can define the grade method each qualification should use (For example, one EAP for GCSE 9-1, one for GCSE 9-1 Double, BTEC First Award, BTEC Tech Award etc.). If a school does not wish to make use of the additional functionality, the grades expected each term within the EAP can be left blank.
If you choose to create blank EAPs, you would still need to upload EAP baselines to set up and select within your EAPs. In this case, ANY baseline can be used as this will not impact your reports. For example, you could upload your Target grades file as the EAP Baselines (so they're available if you decide to make use of the On Track functionality in the future).
Thanks for reading!