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Area Network Day - Summer 2008

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Agenda

09:15 – 10:30 Assessing Pupil Progress

10:30 – 10:45 Break

10:45 – 12:00 Raising Standards in Reading using APP

12:00 – 13:00 Lunch

13:00 – 14:15 APP and Mathematics

14:15 – 14:30 Break

14:30 – 15:45 Schools Library Service, Updates & Networking

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Aims:

• To consider how the process of Assessing Pupil Progress can impact on raising standards

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Objectives

• To have an understanding of the APP process

• To consider the impact of APP on school assessment procedures

• To consider key issues relating to the implementation of APP

• To consider implications and ways forward for your school

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What is APP?

• Assessing Pupils’ Progress is a tool to assess progress periodically against National Curriculum levels

• The APP approach places a much greater emphasis on teachers’ ongoing knowledge of pupils’ progress in reading, writing and mathematics

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Background

• QCA has been working with the National Strategies for several years to develop materials to strengthen teachers’ ongoing and periodic judgements

• Materials for KS3 are already available. KS2 materials have been available since January 2008. KS1 materials are being piloted this year.

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Issues in Assessment

• High stakes tests - results published and used to evaluate school effectiveness

• Pressure on Y2 and Y6 teachers

• Inconsistencies in ongoing assessment and moderation

• Shift towards value-added measures has focused attention on monitoring progress over time but quality of underlying judgements is variable

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NOW

Assessment expertise external to classroom and school systems

Separation of day-to-day assessment from national standards

Assessments seenas reliable because external to the school

Progress is articulated through numbers (4, a/b/c, 5)

National standards communicated through test scores

Teachers reliant on short tests for evidence of achievement

Dominant assessment techniques are specific events rather than part of daily teaching and learning

High value assessments at theend of stages, not useful for individual progress

Some features of the current system

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Teacher and pupil perspectives

NOWTeacher/pupil

We do a lot of practising for the tests

Some of us are better at tests, some of us can’t show our best in them

We do other activities like drama and d&t when we have done our workfor the tests

My family always wants to know what level I’m at, not what I’m good at

I raise test scores by training pupils thoroughly for them

I try to ‘second guess’ what will be in the tests

The test scores of my pupils affect my performance management judgements

We have to give levels to pupils once a term, whether they’ve progressed or not

The test scores do not always reflect what I know of pupils’ performance

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Discussion

• What is the current picture relating to assessment in your school?

o Are there issues in the quality of judgements?

o How is assessment moderated?

o How is time for assessment managed?

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Assessment – Ways of looking

Standing back

Public view

Close up Day-to-day

Periodic

Transitional

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Ways of Looking – Standing Back

• creates a profile of attainment against national standards

• highlights patterns of performance, revealing strengths and areas for development

• adjusts medium-term planning and pedagogy• tracks progress• makes connections across learning contexts• promotes broad curriculum coverage

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The APP Model

A model of assessment that: draws on formative approaches and is diagnostic

is periodic and keyed to national standards

integrates assessment into teaching and learning

enhances classroom practice and encourages a broadly based curriculum

is embedded in the renewed primary frameworks

is based on assessment focuses that underpin national curriculum assessment

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Example assessment guideline - mathematics

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APP materials

• APP Handbook

• Assessment Guidelines sheets - assessment criteria based on level descriptions and

Assessment Focuses

• Standards Files - annotated samples of pupils’ work which provide

nationally agreed reference points for teachers

Assessment

Assessing

Pupil Progress

APP guidelines

Handbook

APP guidelines

Assessment Guidelines for

Reading,Writing

andMathematics

Standards Files

Standards Files

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Impact of APP on Teaching and Learning

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The APP Process

• Teachers select a sample of pupils

• Each term, they review the full range of evidence (written, spoken and observed) for each assessment focus

• They select the appropriate ‘level boundary’ and arrive at judgements using the assessment guidelines sheet

• Annotated examples of pupils’ work provide reference points for teachers (standards files)

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Key Points

• The APP materials should be used with a sample group of pupils who are representative of the whole class. (6 pupils suggested)

• There is no expectation that a separate portfolio of work should be created as evidence – work in pupils’ books and folders is sufficient.

• There is no expectation that this should be done more than once a term.

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Emerging Issues

• Difficulty of identifying evidence for reading in literacy and using and applying in mathematics

• The need for planned independent and guided work

• The process is initially time-consuming

• Sample of pupils provides clear benchmarks for whole class

• Pressure to complete guidelines for all pupils

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Emerging Issues• What constitutes acceptable evidence

• Setting may make it harder to gather evidence from other areas of the curriculum.

• The need to link back from assessment outcomes to Framework learning objectives

• Senior leadership involvement in standardisation and moderation essential

• The need for a planned approach to implementation and staff training opportunities

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Key benefits

• Assessment focuses help teachers recognise evidence in key elements of reading, writing and mathematics

• Allows progress ‘within’ a level to be seen

• Provides detailed information for the next teacher / school

• Can reveal ‘gaps’ in curriculum and/or learning

• Develops shared understanding of national standards

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Implications

• What are the key issues for you in implementing the use of APP in your school?

• How would implementation be managed?

phased approach, standardisation, staff training

• How would moderation be addressed within school?

• Is your school ready to take on APP?

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Birmingham Action Research Networks

• Raising Boys Achievement through Visual Literacy• Visual Literacy and Bollywood Film• Teachers as Readers • Writing on Screen• Close Encounters – Experiential Literacy• EAL and Mathematics • Assessment for Learning• Moving Forward• Investors in Excellence

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Birmingham Action Research Networks

• Provision for Gifted and Talented• Problem Solving as a Key Aspect of Learning• Personalised Teaching and Learning• ICT as a Learning Tool• Using Sound Technologies to raise Attainment• Raising Standards in Mathematics using ICT• Film Creation across the Curriculum

Recruiting for September 2008For further information please contact

gill.a.kane@birmingham.gov.uk