Update on Assessing Pupil Progress in PE

Exemplification of standards and approaches in Assessment

The new Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) is presently working with schools to develop exemplification materials that will demonstrate effective ways of collecting evidence and providing feedback through assessment for learning and periodic assessments in subjects. The materials produced will show how assessment practices within and between subjects can support learning, embed standards and be part of effective teaching of the revised programmes of study.

They will:

demonstrate ways to collect evidence of pupils’ knowledge, skills and understanding as seen in their talk, actions and outcomes
provide examples of manageable ways of collecting evidence.
include evidence of subject standards.
These exemplification materials will be available from the assessment section of the new national curriculum website in July 2010.

This is somewhat frustrating as the APP for PE materials have been draft form for over a year now and we are all keen to move forwards in a consistent progressive way as soon as possible.

Please visit our Curriculum Support pages to view these draft materials.

Key messages currently coming out from QCDA include:

View AfL as a process that works with APP
APP can help focus on planning for progression (in learning), rather than planning for coverage
Subject pedagogy can be strengthened as APP can highlight common misconceptions in learning – this helps personalised intervention
Progression targets are not the same as attainment targets – the latter is usually characterised by too frequent (mis)use of levels and numbers
APP gives a jagged profile of pupils’ attainment – progress in learning is not linear through the levels
APP gets underneath the levels – it gives a broader perspective
Any software that generates algorithms re a level or sub-level should be seriously discouraged!

Further Information

Further guidance on gathering evidence, integrating assessment, periodic assessment and the role of tasks and tests can be found in the assessment section of the new QCDA website.

Further guidance on day-to-day assessment and peer and self-assessment can also be found under the assessment section of the QCDA website.