Sonar Tracker: Entering Summative Assessments Guide

Overview

This article explains summative assessment, the Sonar Assessment Model, and how to use it in Sonar Tracker to maximise pupil outcomes.

We have recently enhanced this area of the software. The removal of effective assessment means that each half term teachers do not see the previous assessments by default. However they can choose to copy over assessments from a previous half term with just a couple of clicks - see below.
You can read more here - Enhancing Assessment in Sonar Tracker

Sonar Assessment Model

Summative teacher assessments are essential for helping teachers and leaders make accurate predictions, identify issues, and allocate additional resources effectively.

The Sonar Assessment Model is built on this premise. It is flexible and accommodates various assessment models. The usage described here applies to the Sonar Assessment Model, but the method remains consistent across all models.

Attainment Codes

Each attainment code has a specific meaning and importance:

Below	These are pupils working below the age-expected standard. They are not on track to achieve the expected standard but may have the potential to attain more highly. For example, their attainment may be affected by factors such as absence. They may be pupils for whom extra support through intervention strategies may be beneficial.
Just At	One of the main reasons to maintain summative assessments in a school is to indicate if pupils are likely to attain the national expected standard at the end of the key stage. The Just At code indicates that pupils are Just At the age related expectation at the point in time the assessment relates to. So if they continue to achieve at the expected rate they should achieve it, whether that is the Expected Standard at Key Stage One or 100 in the Key Stage two scaled score. This code is important as it empowers teachers to give an honest assessment. The Just At Age Related Expectation pupils are on track but are vulnerable to any upsets, such as a prolonged period of absence.
Securely At	These are pupils who are securely at the age-related expectation at this point in time. An assessment here means the pupil is firmly on track. If they continue to progress at the same rate they are very likely, close to 100%, to achieve the expected standard at the end of the key stage. Obviously, there are no guarantees, and much can happen in the course of a school year but, as things stand, these pupils are not a cause for concern.
Above	The Above code indicates pupils who are above the age-related expectation. They are likely to achieve the Higher Key Stage Standard. Similar to the Just At code, these are pupils who are on track to achieve the higher standard at the end of the key stage. But they will only do so if their rate of progress is maintained.

Pupils working above or below their current year group

For pupils accessing curriculum content above or below their current year group it may be useful to enter an assessment within the appropriate range. The method is detailed later on.

For reports, these pupils will be described as Significantly Above or Significantly Below:

Significantly Above	Significantly Above are pupils, for whom, the Higher Key Stage Standard or 110 scaled score is very much their expected outcome. They are firmly on track to achieve the Higher Key Stage Standard.
Significantly Below	Significantly Below would usually represent pupils working below the band for their year group, and accessing curriculum content appropriate for them. They will probably be on a stage of SEN.

Using the Summative Assessment Tools

Expand a section below to view the appropriate instructions:

To enter EYFS Summative Assessments in Sonar Tracker:
1. Select Assessments.
2. Select EYFS Summative Assessment (New) from the Teacher Assessments list.
3. When prompted:
  1. Select one or more Year Groups and / or Classes for which you wish to enter test results.
  2. Select Open Assessment.
4. From the EYFS Summative Assessment page, optionally select:
  1. Any filters as required.
  2. A different Assessment Point (by default, this is the current Assessment Point).
  3. Up to 10 subjects to display instead of the default ones.
5. For each pupil:
  1. Select the subject where you want to enter a grade:
  2. Select the appropriate assessment code for the pupil that you are assessing or select View All Codes:
    
    ^{The choices available for selection may be different for your school.}
    
    Select Triangulate to see a summary of the pupil's prior assessment data and targets. This is a great aide-memoire when recording your Summative assessment data at the selected assessment point.
  3. If you selected View All Codes, select the code from those displayed the pupil you are assessing. This allows you to set assessment codes for pupils who are working at a different level to their current year group:
To enter Primary Summative teacher assessments in Sonar Tracker:
1. Select Assessments.
2. Select Primary Summative Assessment (New) from the Teacher Assessments list.
3. When prompted:
  1. Select one or more Year Groups and / or Classes for which you wish to enter test results.
  2. Select Open Assessment.
4. From the Primary Summative Assessment page, optionally select:
  1. Any filters as required.
  2. A different Assessment Point (by default, this is the current Assessment Point).
  3. Up to 10 subjects to display instead of the default ones.
5. For each pupil:
  1. Select the subject where you want to enter a grade:
  2. Select the appropriate assessment code for the pupil that you are assessing or select View All Codes:
    
    Select Triangulate to see a summary of the pupil's Formative assessment data, along with their Test Scores, current Target, Statutory results and previous Summative assessment data. This is a great aide-memoire when recording your Summative assessment data at the selected assessment point:
  3. If you selected View All Codes, select the code from those displayed the pupil you are assessing. This allows you to set assessment codes for pupils who are working at a different level to their current year group:
From either the Primary Summative Assessment (New) or the EYFS Summative Assessment (New) page:
1. Locate either the subject or pupil that you want to bulk fill.
2. Select the appropriate ellipsis (either next to the pupil or subject, depending on what you want to bulk fill):
3. From the menu, select Bulk Fill:
4. From the menu, select the value that you want to bulk fill with:
  
  To remove values in bulk, select Clear Result.
5. When prompted:
  1. Review the details of the data that you are about to bulk fill.
  2. Select Confirm Bulk Fill.
    
    There is no undo option when bulk filling data. When you bulk fill, any existing data that has been entered will be overwritten. You will need to manually recreate any data that has been updated accidentally.
From the appropriate Summative Assessment (New) data entry page:
1. Locate either the subject or pupil where you want to copy previous assessment data.
2. Select the appropriate ellipsis (either next to the pupil or subject, depending on what you want to copy):
3. From the menu, select Copy Data From Previous Term:
4. When prompted:
  1. Select the previous term or baseline data you want to copy.
  2. Select Copy.
5. When prompted:
  1. Review the details of the data that you are about to overwrite.
  2. Select Confirm Copy.
    
    There is no undo option when copying data from one term (or baseline) to another term. When you copy data, it will overwrite any existing data that has been entered. You will need to manually recreate any data that has been updated accidentally.
To customise the subjects displayed when making summative assessments in Sonar Tracker:
1. Select Assessments.
2. Select either EYFS Summative or Primary Summative from the Teacher Assessments pane based on your need.
3. Select the appropriate Year Group(s) and / or Class(es).
4. Select Open Assessment.
5. Select the Subjects selector.
6. Choose up to 10 subjects that you want to display, using the main groupings as appropriate to select all subjects within the group:

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Updated 15 May 2026 14:13