Teachers support GTC assessment plans

The GTC will be staging a national conference on the future of pupil assessment after teachers gave a positive response to its proposals (21 Dec 2006).

Feedback on the plans came in a series of seminars staged by the GTC during autumn 2006 in London, Leeds, Bristol and Manchester. At each of the seminars, the GTC outlined its proposals, and teachers considered them in small groups.

Delegates at all of the events supported the proposals, and in Bristol and Manchester, they were asked directly for the degree of their support. In response to the question 'Can you broadly support the GTC's proposals for assessment in the future?' 62% of those who completed an evaluation agreed, and a further 29% agreed strongly.

At three of the four seminars, guest speakers addressed the issue of assessment for learning (AfL). They were: Bethan Marshall from Kings College London; Kathleen Tattersall, chair of the new Institute of Educational Assessors; and Bridget Somekh from Manchester Metropolitan University.

What teachers said

The GTC’s proposals come under three main headings, as follows.

Assessment for learning (AfL): the integration of formative and summative assessment to enhance teaching and learning.

The GTC proposes:

• increased government investment in assessment for learning
• the development of a bank of tests for teachers to use when pupils are ready
• recommendations for underpinning teacher professional learning and development.

Teachers said:

‘Formative assessment is the way forward. I feel that over-assessment will alienate certain pupils. We should not forget the case for creativity and the children’s enjoyment of learning.’

‘The bank of tests is welcome but it must be well designed, fit for purpose and incorporate differentiated personalisation for SEN and EAL pupils.’

‘Not one or the other but a blend of summative and formative assessment could make pupil workload easier.’

Assessment for accountability: how data from pupil assessment can support learning and lead to enriched and accessible public information and accountability.

The GTC proposes:

• enhanced information from schools to pupils and parents on individual pupil progress
• more contextual information to parents on school improvement issues including pupil assessment outcomes within the New Relationship with Schools (NRwS) framework
• recommendations concerning a review of the accountability role of performance tables.

Teachers said:

‘The system is currently very accountable – but relationship/communication is not working – it needs to be more personalised in order to draw in parents.’

‘Strengthening and supporting school self-evaluation, validated by Ofsted would make for sufficient public accountability.’

‘Teachers feel they are sufficiently accountable already in terms of quantity of information; it is the quality and the nature of information that needs to be addressed.’

Assessment for monitoring national standards: the production of assessment data and their use to monitor national standards.

The GTC proposes that universal testing for the purpose of monitoring national standards should be replaced with a system of testing samples of pupils from a particular cohort.

Teachers said:

‘We are enthusiastic that this system may enable a broader, more accurate assessment base across the whole curriculum.’

‘I am comfortable with school and pupil anonymity without feedback. The purpose of theme 3 is measurement of national trends.’

Background

The GTC has been seeking to develop recommendations on a future pupil assessment framework since autumn 2003. The purpose of the proposals is to provide a greater degree of teacher professionalism, while ensuring public accountability. This work relates to the GTC’s statutory remit to provide policy advice to the Secretary of State.

In September 2004, following a year of consultation with teachers and other key stakeholders, the GTC submitted formal advice to the Government. The three main headings for study were proposed in early 2005 in order to develop and clarify the GTC’s policy position.

Next steps

The GTC’s assessment conference takes place on 21 March 2007 at Westminster Hall in London. One of its main purposes will be to present the  assessment proposals to a wide range of stakeholders including teachers, parents, local authorities, examination bodies, national policymakers and researchers.

The conference will allow the GTC to widen the debate and gather evidence for the Select Committee for Education and Skills inquiry on assessment, which is expected to take place in 2007. The chair of the committee, Barry Sheerman MP, will be a keynote speaker.

More information on the conference and information on how to apply for a place online will be available in the New Year.