CARMARTHEN and CEREDIGION HEADS OF SCIENCE ASSESSMENT – Moderation and Verification at KS3

Aims and Objectives To develop a clear understanding of cognitive development linked to level descriptions To design appropriate assessment tasks which have clear objectives that can be shared with pupils To apply the level descriptions to samples of pupils’ work To appreciate the link between formative and summative assessment Outcomes : Development of subject portfolios which can be used for external moderation purposes

Key messages from National Curriculum Review (2004) Focus of any new curriculum should be one that developed skills, especially thinking skills Assessment should be formative throughout a key stage (AfL)

The balancing act! formative summative measures attainment end point assists achievement ongoing accountability reporting setting/grouping goal is to attain outlines next steps motivates pupils supportive but challenging goal is to improve

Problems of using tests for summative purposes 1.Do not provide information about the full range of educational outcomes and therefore don’t encourage skill development 2.Inhibits the development of formative assessment 3.The data is probably less reliable than it is thought to be and therefore unfair and incorrect decisions can be made about pupils

……continued 4. Can reduce the self-esteem of lower-achieving pupils and reduce some pupils’ motivation to learn 5. Some pupils find tests stressful and they don’t perform as well as they can 6. Restricts teaching methods that allow for a deeper understanding of the work

What ought to be assessed? Learning with understanding and Understanding learning

Reconciling formative and summative assessment If formative assessment is to be used for summative purposes the information gathered must be reviewed against the level descriptions

End of key stage assessment arrangememnts 1.Moderation 2.Verification 3.Accreditation

Timeline 2006 Piloting of moderation arrangements (spring /summer term) Feedback conferences for pilot schools (October) Invitation to all schools to take part in 2006/07 pilot

…….. Timeline 2007 Last set of tests to schools in spring term (no external marking) Summer term – pilot schools send sample evidence for external moderation Small scale pilot for verification

……. Timeline 2007 Autumn term – remaining schools become part of pilot. Verification pilot continues on a larger scale.

…… Timeline 2008 Remaining schools submit sample evidence for external moderation Schools report at AT level

…….. Timeline 2009 Schools implement arrangements for KS2/3 cluster moderation of teacher assessment Follow up with schools where there are accreditation issues

Cognitive development - Bloom

Bloom - adapted Note change from nouns to verbs (to reflect active thinking) and change in order

Command words of the level descriptions Level 1 : describe, identify, name Level 2 : group, sort, classify, Level 3 : explain Level 4 : use scientific terminology to describe, group and explain Level 5 : applies knowledge and understanding gained from one context to another familiar context Level 6 : use of abstract ideas (models) Level 7 : linking Level 8 : consider and predict. Application of quantitative data.