All students in year 7 are given a test during their first half term at Burton Borough. The results of this test are used along with the KS2 SATs results to provisionally group the students by ability after the first half term.
In years 7, 8 and 9 students are taught in ability-based sets. There is some flexibility in the setting criteria, each teacher using their professional judgment along with assessments made of the student's ability in order to recommend whether a student change sets. In general each group is engaged in the same area of work at the same time, facilitating movement between groups where and when appropriate.