Assessment for learning: the impact of National Strategy support

This survey evaluated the impact of the National Strategies’ approaches to
assessment for learning in English and mathematics lessons across a sample of
primary and secondary schools. The impact on achievement and provision was no
better than satisfactory in almost two thirds of the schools visited. It was better
developed in primary than in secondary schools. Surveys of other subjects provided
additional evidence of its variable impact.

Quite alarming results and probably waste of money and resources too. It is based on survey in 43 schools in England, so it possibly is not the whole nation picture. But even so the findings show, that

In the less effective practice, teachers failed to understand sufficiently how the
approaches were meant to improve pupils’ achievement. Although schools valued
the training and support provided, good practice in assessment for learning did
not necessarily follow. Senior leaders did not maintain the momentum of
implementation, often moving on to other priorities before practice was secure.

I find AfL an amazing tool to improve achievement. And to enable pupils to become lifelong learners too. Especially when using peer and self-assessment.

So what the survey found and what can we learn from it.
1. The implementation of AfL is not easy process and even when it becomes initiative supported by government and many hours of training, it still can fail.
2. When AfL did not have great impact, it was seen by surveyors, that teachers did not implement strategies correctly or did not understand AfL.
3. Also there was a correlation between successful AfL practice and involvement of senior management.
4. Peer and self- assessment seems to be least used and implemented practice.
5.

Only three of the secondary schools showed they used assessment information
effectively to plan the curriculum and teachers’ setting of objectives

6. The highest impact of AfL was in the provision of SEN.

I am keen on AfL. The evidence shows that this is the right direction and can have huge impact not only on students, but on the teachers too. As I mentioned in one previous post there are thing I would like to export from British schools to Slovakia. AfL is one of them.