Parents’ Voice:

Assessment Principles

Pashley Down Infant School

Assessment Principles 

Pashley uses assessment to drive learning. We believe it important to know where each child is in their learning journey to successfully pitch teaching to each child’s specific needs. Pashley use formative (ongoing) and summative (structured) assessment in line with the school policy and National guidelines.

We believe that Assessment for Learning (AFL) is key to excellent teaching and learning. At Pashley AFL is often referred to as ‘responsive teaching’

Assessment for learning is a powerful way of raising pupils’ achievement. It is based on the principle that pupils will improve most if they understand the aim of their learning, where they are in relation to this aim and how they can achieve the aim (or close the gap in their knowledge). It is not an add-on or a project; it is central to effective teaching and learning.

Assessment for Learning:

Assessment for learning strategy: DFE 2008

 

Pashley holds six main principles for assessment:

  1. Assessment is at the heart of teaching and learning: assessment provides evidence to guide teaching and learning.
  2. Assessment is consistent: judgements are based on set national standards that are understood by all teachers; these judgements are comparable to those from other schools
  3. Assessment is accurate: judgements are made on a wide range of evidence and teachers meet regularly to moderate judgements checking they are comparable to each other, and other schools locally and nationally
  4. Assessment is appropriate: the system of assessment must meet the needs of the teachers and learners, and so should be ‘practical’ and ‘possible’
  5. Assessments provide meaningful information: for teachers, children and parents / carers