Pulse v4

Targeting greater achievement

One of the most effective ways an authority can support schools in raising standards in teaching and learning is by scrutinising pupil assessment data, working closely with school leaders to set appropriate targets for school performance.

One PULSE enables authorities to bring together student assessment data from across the region to analyse the performance of individual pupils, schools and the authority as a whole. Using PULSE, authority staff can easily spot trends that are developing and identify where there might be a need for intervention to support pupils’ learning. PULSE also ensures the effects of any interventions can be monitored effectively to make sure they are achieving the desired results.

Access a complete record of Attainment

Authority staff have access to a complete and accurate historical record of assessment data to help them track and monitor the progress of individual pupils, schools and the region as a whole. This information is easily transferred to the authority directly from SIMS, or any other school information management system. This ensures the task of gathering assessment data is quick and simple for both school and authority staff.

Ensure more effective target-setting to raise pupil achievement

PULSE enables authorities to work in close partnership with schools to support greater achievement. Learning targets can be set for individual pupils that are realistic and appropriately challenging as they are based on a child’s past performance. The system also helps identify areas of the curriculum which might require additional learning support. From the analysis of data, a need might be identified to improve results for Key Stage 2 boys in literacy, for example. The success of any new initiatives could then be tracked via PULSE to help decide whether the new literacy programme is working.

Support school improvement

Targets can be set for schools or clusters to help ensure a high standard of learning is provided to individual pupils or groups, such as those who are gifted or have special educational needs. Simple-to-use statistical tables and graphs ensure school performance can be analysed at the click of a mouse against these targets or other national benchmarks on pupil attainment. You can take a closer look at the level of attainment or value added to pupils’ education and use this information to investigate why some schools and groups of pupils achieve results beyond expectation. This will help identify strategies schools have put in place, which have successfully raised achievement, so they can be replicated throughout the region.

Efficiency and accuracy

PULSE can contribute to efficiency savings by ensuring the data required for Foundation and Key Stage 1 statutory returns can be collated at the touch of a button.

(click here for more information on PULSE Functionality Sheet)