Assessing pupils’ learning

Assessing pupils' learning is an integral part of teaching and learning and should not be seen as a 'bolt-on' process. This chapter includes sections on developing intended learning outcomes, establishing assessment criteria and assessing learning through teacher observation, questioning, peer- and self-assessment. Formative assessment focuses on strategies to develop pupil learning. Summative assessment is intended to identify the current level of pupil learning. For a detailed assessment of pupils' learning, reader should write assessment criteria for each learning outcome. In order to observe effectively, the reader must be clear about both their intended learning outcomes and the associated assessment criteria. An effective strategy for supporting peer- and self-assessment is to create resources with clear and unambiguous assessment criteria that are aspirational and challenging. Regularly assessing pupils provides a detailed record of pupil learning across a unit of work.