A profile is a snapshot of a child's or young person’s best achievements at a given point in time. Profiles are primarily aimed at learners and their parents and draw together a range of information about a child or young person’s learning. It is one of the ways in which a learner’s achievements can be recognised.
Why develop profiles?
Profiles should be produced at the key points of transition in learning of P7 and S3. Producing profiles at P7 emphasises learners’ achievements as they move from primary school into secondary school. Young people will complete a profile at the end of S3 at the point at which they move from a broad general education into learning pathways within the senior phase.
Building the Curriculum 5: A Framework for Assessment: Recognising Achievement, Profiling and Reporting (p 4)Profiling and profiles – A profile of a learner’s best achievements will be produced at P7 and S3. Profiles may be produced at other points to meet the needs of a learner, as decided by the learner, school or education authority. There will be an on-going process of dialogue and reflection for all learners from 3 to 18. The information drawn together through this process will enable profiles to be produced whenever required to inform the next stages of learning.
Profiling increases self-esteem, improves motivation, and thereby improves learning. In so doing, it is integral to the overall Curriculum for Excellence aims of raising attainment, reducing the achievement gap and preparing for the future.
Completing the profile gives learners an opportunity to articulate their learning and achievements to others.
What is the difference between a profile and a report?
The difference between a profile and a report is that a profile is a positive record of achievement to date. A profile will include a learner’s statement of their selected record of achievement. A profile emphasises strengths and does not identify detailed points for development, ie next steps.
Building the Curriculum 5: A Framework for Assessment: Recognising Achievement, Profiling and Reporting acknowledges that a report and profile may be based on the same information but that the information will serve different purposes.
What are the purposes of the P7 and S3 profiles?
The purposes of the profiles are to:
- provide learners with a reflective summary statement of achievement as they move from primary school into secondary school, or from S3 into the senior phase
- provide learners with a summary of achievements to help them plan for future learning and development
- publicly recognise progress in learning
- challenge, motivate and support all children and young people to achieve their best
- build learners’ skills and capabilities to reflect on their learning
- support and inform transition.
Find us on