Writing reports can be a stressful time of year for teachers and leaders. There is often a lot of worry about what to include in order to give a balanced and constructive viewpoint.
We've created some suggestions on what you could include in an end of year report:
A Headteacher's comment could include some of these ideas:
- Positive reinforcement: Begin the comment with a positive and encouraging tone. Highlight strengths, accomplishments, and areas of improvement throughout the year.
- Acknowledge effort and growth: Recognise all of their hard work, dedication, and progress made during the academic year.
- General observations: Provide an overview of overall performance and behaviour in school.
- Collaboration and relationships: Mention their interactions with peers, teachers, and other staff members. Comment on their ability to work collaboratively, show empathy, and display good social skills.
- Goals for the future: Encourage them to build on their strengths and address any challenges they may have faced.
- Appreciation and support: Express gratitude for their presence in the school community and acknowledge the efforts of the parents or guardians in supporting their child's education.
A Teacher's personal progress comment could include:
- Approach to Learning: Provide a summary on how they approach learning in general - talk about what they do well and what they need support with, e.g. building independence skills. Focus on progress made since the beginning of the year. Be specific, highlighting specific achievements or areas where improvement is needed.
- Personal growth: Recognise any personal and social development and include success stories of when they have shown positive strengths such as team work, but also include an example of where they need support and how they can improve.
- Extra-curricular activities: If applicable, mention their involvement in extracurricular activities, clubs, or events. Highlight any notable achievements or contributions they made outside of the classroom.
- Parent/Carer involvement: Acknowledge the support and involvement of the child's parents or guardians in their education. Encourage ongoing communication and collaboration between the school and the family.
You may then wish to add some bespoke information tailored to your school, e.g. how well the pupils have done in line with your behaviour and rewards system, and or learning characteristics that you have been focussing on.
A Teacher's subject specific comments could include:
In the subject-specific comment boxes, teachers should focus on providing specific feedback related to each subject, such as:
- Their strengths - what they have done well this year, and why.
- Areas for improvement - what they need help with and how they can improve.
- What progress has been made. Provide examples and specific instances to support your comments.
- Additionally, you can highlight any outstanding assignments, projects, or achievements related to each subject.
It's important to strike a balance between constructive feedback and positive reinforcement. Aim to motivate the child to continue their progress while offering clear, specific and achievable guidance for their future development.