Formative Assessment Guidance for Richmond and Kingston Teachers
The following summary and explanation is provided by NAHT (some edits) in relation to assessment and Ofsted:
“Topic number one for many schools next term is assessment. Ofsted has just produced guidance for inspectors outlining their expectations for assessment.
They explicitly reference the report of NAHT’s Commission on Assessment as good practice. So, if you’ve been building on that, then you’re in the right place. You can find the report here.
The second phase of NAHT’s work on assessment is now complete. We commissioned a group of school leaders to generate an assessment framework based on recommendations from the report and reflecting the assessment principles it identified. This framework is now available on the NAHT website and is free to all members.
There is more work to do: we particularly want to expand the materials for special needs students and the gifted and talented. This work is ongoing, but we wanted to get the first batch of materials to you as soon as possible.
In terms of what inspectors will be looking for … highlights include the following:
- They will expect some continued use of levels in the short term. And they expect historic performance data to be in the form of levels
- They will expect assessment to be a work in progress during the autumn term. Schools will be ‘working towards full implementation’
- They emphasise the importance of regular assessment and high aspirations against ‘age related expectations’
- They also emphasise the importance of clear reporting to parents in ways which help them understand how their children are doing in relation to national standards
- Inspectors will look more at the range of pupils’ work to cross check progress
- They will expect school leaders to be using assessment data to improve teaching and to identify pupils at risk of falling behind. They will expect teachers to modify their approach in light of the information provided by assessment. They will also expect opportunities to stretch the most able by deepening their understanding
- Assessment should be related to the school curriculum and what is taught in the curriculum should be shared with parents
- Internal and external moderation are critical and teachers should be supported to make consistent judgements and to use assessment data collectively
- Governors should have assured themselves of the rigour of the process
- Progress in English and mathematics should draw on evidence from other subjects where relevant
If you have been working from our Commission on Assessment, these expectations are fully embedded in the design principles. Note the emphasis on comparison to national standards; the active use of assessment to inform teaching and leadership; and the need for informative reporting to parents and carers. The new materials on assessment criteria should help you to set consistent age-related expectations and to build from the new curriculum.
On Ofsted related news please be aware:
- the bar has shifted on behaviour. Inspectors will be focused on low level disruption and attitudes to learning
- there will be emphasis on a broad and balanced curriculum and
- Ofsted is consulting on no notice inspections, which we vigorously oppose. In the meantime, they have clarified the triggers under the existing powers to conduct no notice inspections.
The significant element in here is where schools have failed to meet the statutory requirement to publish information to parents. The rest of the triggers concern rapid declines in behaviour or standards or serious complaints from parents or staff, which are nothing new.
NAHT will be offering courses on assessment in the latter half of the autumn term 2014. We are fortunate that two of the top experts in the field of assessment will be leading these courses: Mick Walker and Graham Herbert. Mick was instrumental in setting up and supporting the NAHT Commission on Assessment. Both Mick and Graham have led on the development of the subsequent assessment framework and supporting materials. Work is underway to develop these courses and places will be limited. As soon as full course details are available it will be uploaded onto the website. Please visit www.naht.org.uk/courses for the latest information.
I hope this summary is helpful and do encourage you to take a look at the NAHT materials. As well as setting out useful guidance for schools, I feel these have also helped to shape, in some small fashion, Ofsted’s own approach to this topic.
Regards,
Russell
Russell Hobby
NAHT – General Secretary
twitter: @russellhobby
The following document is from Ofsted and sets out its expecations regarding assessment:
This is the latest guidance from the AfC assessment group:
The role of the assessment leader
Draft Guiding Principles by Assessment Group
Presentation given (by the Assessment Group) to Richmond School Improvement Forum
Teacher Performance Profiles – 2013
Link to STA’s test frameworks
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/national-curriculum-assessments-test-frameworks