How tagging transforms learning outcomes: pupils achieve more progress in just three months

Our recent collaboration with NCFE focused on how tagging – an innovative tool within Pupil Progress – enables the assignment of students to groups based on shared learning needs or strategic goals, such as "English 4+ but not Maths."

This functionality is further enhanced by detailed Question Level Analysis (QLA) from formal assessment data, providing both teachers and students with clear insights into the specific areas of the course that require focus and improvement. But the success of this project isn’t just about the technology; it’s about a shared commitment to improving outcomes for every student.

In just three months, underperforming students identified for targeted support using the Pupil Progress tagging feature matched or made greater progress than their peers, closing learning gaps. This was seen consistently across all 6 schools that used tagging, and in both English and Maths.

This isn’t just a promising statistic – it’s evidence of how teacher expertise paired with purpose-built assessment tracking tools can transform teachers’ strategic planning, student motivation, and efficiently raise attainment.

The journey behind Pupil Progress

As former educators, Brett Griffin and I lived the challenges teachers face every day. I spent over 12 years as a school leader, working to simplify data management while improving student outcomes. Brett, an Assistant Principal, shared my frustration with the inefficiencies in tracking and evidencing progress.

The “aha” moment came during a key education conference, where Brett secured our first investor. Together, over the past 10 years we’ve built Pupil Progress, a platform designed by teachers, for teachers, to transform how schools approach assessment. Today, our team of more than 30 includes many former educators who are passionate about reducing workload and creating opportunities for students.

What is Pupil Progress?

Pupil Progress trackers help you take control of your performance data at subject, topic and skill level, giving you clarity and confidence when it comes to informing your curriculum strategy, lesson planning and teaching.

For teachers, tracking and evidencing progress can feel like an uphill battle. How do you identify which pupils are struggling? How do you ensure interventions are effective? And how do you communicate progress clearly to parents and carers, school leaders, and inspectors? This is where our tagging feature comes in.

What is tagging and how does it work?

Tagging allows teachers to label specific skills or objectives for improvement within assessments, breaking down learning into manageable chunks. Instead of focusing solely on final grades, tagging helps identify and track progress of students with similar strengths and weaknesses at a granular skill, topic or question level.

By reviewing tagged data, teachers gain clear insights into student performance, enabling them to:

• pinpoint learning gaps and plan targeted interventions
• track long-term trends in progress and identify consistent issues
• evidence progress during meetings, inspections, and reviews.

The results: positive progress in just three months

Our recent research with NCFE revealed the significant impact of tagging on pupil outcomes:

• Accelerated learning: previously underperforming pupils that were tagged achieved matched or exceeded results in comparison to their peers.
• Improved clarity for teachers: Educators reported that tagging made it easier to identify areas needing attention.
• Enhanced engagement: Targeted interventions boosted pupil confidence and motivation.

These results demonstrate that when teachers have access to meaningful, actionable data, the possibilities for improving pupil progress are endless. This wasn’t just shown in the attainment data, but also felt by teachers. An impressive 97% of teachers felt that Pupil Progress gave them the confidence to tackle areas of underachievement with their students, correlating with an equally remarkable 97% of schools and trusts choosing to resubscribe to the platform.

Why does this matter?

Schools today face mounting challenges in tracking and promoting progress. Teachers are often overwhelmed by the demands of data management, and it can be hard to know where to focus efforts. Implementing an effective tracking and monitoring system helps answer key questions like:

• How do you assess and monitor pupil progress effectively?
• How can you ensure pupils make good progress across subjects?
• What does good progress look like, and how can you evidence it?

By breaking learning into tagged objectives, schools can move beyond traditional methods and embrace a more precise, informed approach to assessment.

Tips for schools looking to enhance progress tracking

If your school is exploring ways to improve progress tracking, here are some practical tips:

1. Start with clear learning objectives: Ensure every assessment aligns with specific skills or concepts you want to measure.

2. Use tagging to track progress over time: Regularly review tagged data to monitor trends and adjust strategies.

3. Engage pupils in their progress: Share tagged results with pupils to help them understand their strengths and areas for improvement.

4. Collaborate with colleagues: Use tagged insights to facilitate discussions about teaching strategies and pupil support.

What educators are saying

Feedback from educators within the pilot has been overwhelmingly positive. One educator shared:
“Teachers are using granular data to extract insights, allowing them to effectively identify students and focus groups which require support.” - Mike Holly, Assistant Principal, Great Academy Ashton

Another noted: “Attendance improved as students were better supported and motivated [to increase their grades].” - Francesca Huskisson-Moore, Assistant Headteacher, Nottingham University Samworth Academy

The bigger picture: a shared commitment to education

At Pupil Progress, we believe every piece of data represents a student’s story. Our goal is to simplify assessment so teachers can focus on what truly matters - helping pupils succeed.

This ethos was at the heart of our collaboration with NCFE. Together, we explored not just how to measure pupil progress, but how to promote better outcomes by pupils through smarter, more efficient systems. 

Ready to transform how you track Pupil Progress?

If you’re interested in learning more about tagging and its impact, talk to one of our in-house data experts. We’d love to discuss how our tools can help your school improve outcomes, reduce workload, and celebrate success.

Visit our homepage to discover more about our solutions and explore additional resources. By embracing tools like tagging, schools can ensure that every pupil’s journey is supported and celebrated. It’s not just about meeting benchmarks - it’s about exceeding them. Let’s make meaningful progress together.

Sources:

• NCFE and Pupil Progress Research Report
• Learn more about Pupil Progress

About the author:

Barnaby Grimble, co-founder of Pupil Progress, is a seasoned school leader with over 12 years of experience in education. Driven by a passion for student success, he is dedicated to simplifying assessment analysis, helping teachers focus on what matters most: their students. Barnaby believes that "behind every piece of data is a student," and his work at Pupil Progress reflects his commitment to turning complex assessment data into meaningful insights. By empowering educators with innovative tools, Barnaby and his team strive to transform the way progress is tracked, creating better outcomes for students and teachers alike.

Pictured: Brett Griffin and Barnaby Grimble