E-bulletins

Funding – Year 2

AfL e-bulletin, containing AfL funding information.

AfL in practice – primary

Resources

AfL news

Details of AfL news, summarising the assessment changes at Key Stage 3 from October 2009, which include the abolition of National Curriculum tests and how schools plan to deal with this. Contains links to teachernet and related areas of the QCDA site.

AfL in practice

Explanation of how Assessment for Learning (AfL) works in practice, with an example from Northowram Primary School who took part in the Making Good Progress pilot, and Heathcote School who adopted Assessing Pupils' Progress (APP).

Resources

Directions to APP resources, both online and published. Contains an overview of ‘Personalised Learning – A Practical Guide’ and link to ordering information.

AfL support and funding for every school

2010/11 sees the last year of the Assessment for Learning (AfL) Strategy funding, with the final allocation of £50 million to schools to help embed good AfL in every classroom and a programme of training and support delivered through the National Strategies and local authorities.

Engaging pupils with AfL

At Beechwood Junior School in Southampton, teachers have engaged pupils as active partners in their learning through the use of assessment for learning (AfL) in the classroom.

New area of the National Strategies website

From March 2010, a new focus area of the National Strategies website enables primary and secondary senior leaders to find guidance and key resources to support their school's intervention provision.

Whole school intervention planning

With a school roll of 1300 pupils in an area of high deprivation, Little Ilford School has devised a whole school strategy to intervention planning that aims to ensure that all pupils' academic needs are addressed so that every student can make good progress from the moment they enter the school.

Joint Statement with Teacher Associations on APP

A joint statement on manageability of APP has been written by QCDA, the DCSF and Teacher Associations.

Resources

Resources of interest to those interested in assessment for learning.

APP for Speaking and Listening

Assessing Pupils' Progress (APP) will be available for Speaking and Listening in the spring term 2010. Criteria will be available for levels 1 to 8 and are designed to be used at Key Stages 1, 2 and 3.

Messages from 'Making Good Progress' Schools

Schools in the Making Good Progress pilot have been using APP in English and mathematics with their Key Stage 2 and 3 pupils for more than two years. They share some of their thoughts about the pilot.

APP in primary science

Assessing Pupils' Progress (APP) will be available for primary science early in the spring term 2010. Assessment criteria for levels 1 and 2 have been developed and piloted in primary schools to add to the existing criteria for levels 3 to 8.

APP – some key messages

The first aim of the Assessment for Learning Strategy is for every child to know how they are doing, to understand what they need to do to improve and how to get there.

Free training through National Strategies

All schools have an entitlement to free National Strategies (NS) training programmes that incorporate a focus on Assessment for Learning (AfL) and Assessing Pupils' Progress (APP).

Expert Group on Assessment

Expert Group on Assessment has given a strong endorsement of Assessment for Learning (AfL) and Assessing Pupils' Progress (APP).

Talking to pupils and parents about assessment

The DCSF has commissioned Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) to develop materials to support teachers in engaging pupils and parents in understanding progress.

Resources and guidance

Links to useful resources and guidance