KS3 Report Comments: Collaboration and Communication (Years 7-9)
Collaboration and communication covers how a student works with others and expresses ideas: contributing productively to pair and group tasks, listening to and respecting other viewpoints, explaining ideas clearly in discussion or presentations, and encouraging peers.
Below are 13 sample sentences for KS3 (Years 7-9): two strengths and one next step for each of the 4 comment levels (Outstanding / Good / Requires improvement / Unsatisfactory), plus a tip for families. They are a small selection from the 173 collaboration and communication sentences in the full pack. Copy one, then add a detail only you know about the student.
Jump to: Outstanding · Good · Requires improvement · Unsatisfactory · Writing tips
Fills in the name and pronouns on this page. Nothing is sent anywhere.
Outstanding O
Strengths
- [Name] handles disagreement in group work with a maturity that stands out in Key Stage 3, listening to each view and helping the group reach a decision.
- When a debate becomes heated, [Name] stays calm, acknowledges the other side fairly and keeps the conversation respectful.
Next step
- A good next step would be for [Name] to volunteer as a buddy for new Year 7 students, sharing tips from [his/her/their] own experience of settling in.
Good G
Strengths
- [Name] takes part well in clubs and enrichment sessions and is a positive member of the team.
- [Name] is open to ideas that differ from [his/her/their] own and will often take them on board when working in a group.
Next step
- A useful next step would be for [Name] to volunteer to present the group's work to the class at least once each half-term.
Requires improvement R
Strengths
- In tutor time and lessons, [Name] is learning to take turns in discussion and to listen when classmates are sharing ideas.
- [Name] occasionally talks over classmates in discussions, which can make it harder for others to share their views.
Next step
- Joining a club or enrichment activity would give [Name] more chances to work as part of a team outside lessons.
Unsatisfactory U
Strengths
- With support from the head of year, [Name] is working towards listening calmly to classmates in lessons and tutor time.
- During discussions this term, [Name] has often talked over others and is now working on listening until classmates have finished.
Next step
- Joining one lunchtime or after-school club would give [Name] a structured chance to practise teamwork with staff on hand.
Support at home
- Asking [Name] how group tasks went this week, and what role [he/she/they] might take next time, helps [him/her/them] reflect on teamwork.
How to write collaboration and communication comments for KS3 (Years 7-9)
- In Year 7, new classes and seating plans test collaboration. Describe how the student works with partners they did not choose, and whether they share the work fairly or leave it to others.
- Give a younger student a concrete oracy target, such as answering in full sentences, using a sentence starter to build on a classmate's point, or speaking clearly enough for the whole room to hear.
- Mention roles in group work, like scribe or spokesperson, and suggest rotating them. A Key Stage 3 student who always takes the same role, whether leading or staying quiet, benefits from trying another.
Watch out: Avoid equating confidence with good communication. The student who talks most may not listen, so describe listening and responding to others as well as speaking, and credit quieter students who explain clearly when asked.
Let the described behaviour carry the judgement. Outstanding suits consistently, independently and without being asked; Good suits usually and with few reminders; Requires improvement suits sometimes or when prompted; Unsatisfactory describes what has been happening and the support in place, such as a head of year check-in. Avoid writing the judgement word itself in the sentence.
What Collaboration and Communication covers
In these comments, collaboration and communication covers these behaviours:
- works productively with others in pairs and groups
- listens to and respects different viewpoints
- communicates ideas clearly and confidently
- supports and encourages peers
More UK secondary comments
- Engagement and Effort, KS3 (Years 7-9)
- Independent Study, KS3 (Years 7-9)
- Organisation and Preparation, KS3 (Years 7-9)
- Resilience and Response to Feedback, KS3 (Years 7-9)
- Collaboration and Communication, KS4 (Years 10-11)
- Conduct and Responsibility, KS3 (Years 7-9)
- Opening and closing sentences
- All UK secondary skills and grade bands
- Build a comment with the comment picker
How these sentences were made, and what has been checked: About these comments.