Setting SMART targets for students with CAT4 and FFT

It is important for us to set targets that the students feel they can achieve in order to boost their confidence. When it comes to benchmarking our students and target-setting, CAT4 has proved to be invaluable. We have used the GL/FFT GCSE Estimates Service, provided by FFT Aspire, to upload our CAT4 data to Aspire and produce Key Stage 4 GCSE estimates within minutes.

CAT4 provides us with a vast depth of understanding on our students’ potential across the four reasoning batteries. Using this powerful data alongside FFT Aspire has enabled our teachers to produce SMART targets for the students and continue monitoring their progress easily.

CAT4 has also provided our teachers with valuable information about where individual students may need additional support due to particular strengths or weaknesses, based on their performance across the different batteries. We have recently started developing Pupil Passports to identify the needs of each individual student. We have used much of the information from CAT4 to demonstrate how to support these students in class, which is accessible to all staff in the school.

The data from CAT4 has therefore helped our teachers to personalise and individualise learning plans for students with various needs, such as SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) and SEMH (Social, Emotional and Mental Health), in order to support them during their time in our school. I always get excited when using CAT4 with the students, as having a high spatial ability myself I can easily see patterns and shapes – therefore if a student is ever confused with a question I can help them to look at it in a different way, so that they feel more confident when approaching this in future.

River Tyne Academy Gateshead is one of our Advocate Partners