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Implementing Assessment Change
Conferences for Principals and School Leaders
In November of last year, principals and leaders from post-primary schools attended a series of conferences run by CCEA and the Education and Library Boards. The aim of the conferences was to provide an overview of the statutory assessment arrangements, quality assurance and ongoing support for Key Stage 3. The following article gives some of the key messages from the conferences.
Key Messages for Schools
Assessment Requirements
Schools will be required to assess each pupil annually in:
- Areas of Learning (including Learning for Life and Work);
- Cross-Curricular Skills; and
- Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities.
Levels of Progression
From 2009/10, the assessment judgement for the cross-curricular skills should be made with reference to levels of progression. Levels of progression will be available for Communication, Using Mathematics and Using ICT. Draft versions of the levels of progression are available at www.nicurriculum.org.uk.
There are no levels of progression for the Areas of Learning or Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities. CCEA is developing guidance in order to allow schools to monitor and report progress in Thinking Skills and Personal Capabilities in each subject strand for all Areas of Learning. This guidance will be available to schools in advance of the 2008/09 reporting requirements.
Acquisition and Development of Skills and Capabilities
All subjects have a statutory responsibility to enable pupils to acquire and develop skills and capabilities. Opportunities to develop and acquire skills and capabilities should be part of ongoing classroom activity, infused into the context of the subject. There should also be opportunities for ongoing formative assessment (assessment for learning) of the skills and capabilities to inform future learning and teaching.
It is essential that the opportunities for the acquisition and development of the skills and capabilities are planned and coordinated within schools to ensure a coherent experience for pupils.
Assessment of the Cross-Curricular Skills
In agreement with DE, it has been proposed that, in order to make the assessment of the cross-curricular skills manageable, assessment evidence for each of the cross-curricular skills should be drawn from at least two areas of learning across the key stage.
Reporting
From 2008/09, the Annual Pupil Profile Report will become the statutory means of reporting to parents for Year 8 and Year 9 pupils. By 2009/10, the Annual Pupil Profile Report will be used for all pupils in Key Stage 3.
Schools are encouraged to develop a version of the Annual Pupil Profile Report that reflects the revised Northern Ireland Curriculum and is meaningful for their pupils and parents.
To assist with planning for the implementation of the Pupil Profile for 2008/09, exemplar formats are available at www.nicurriculum.org.uk for discussion and use within your school. The exemplars illustrate possible approaches to reporting within a revised Northern Ireland Curriculum context and reflect the statutory requirements for assessment.
Timescales
2007/08 |
- Northern Ireland Curriculum statutory |
Year 8 |
2008/09 |
- Northern Ireland Curriculum statutory- Pupil Profile statutory |
Year 8Year 9 |
2009/10 |
- Northern Ireland Curriculum statutory- Pupil Profile statutory- Assessment with reference to Levels of |
Year 8Year 9Year10 |
Assessment Support
To support the implementation of the assessment arrangements, a coherent programme of professional development will be provided for teachers in skills acquisition and development; skills assessment; coordination, monitoring and quality assurance. This programme will commence in April 2008.
For further information on any aspect of the assessment arrangements for Key Stage 3, please contact:
Ruth Kennedy |
028 9026 1422 |
|
Nuala Artt |
028 9026 1400 |