Assessment
Curriculum for Excellence sets out the values, purposes and principles for the new curriculum 3 to 18. The new assessment system is driven by the curriculum and so necessarily reflects these values and principles. A coherent approach to planning the curriculum, learning, teaching and assessment is necessary.
Good assessment is integral to the rich educational experience we want for all our children and young people, enabling them to build their skills for learning and ensuring all partners have the information they need to make judgements, choices and decisions about learning. A robust assessment system based on clear nationally agreed benchmarks is the best way to ensure that pupils, parents and teachers have reliable information about a pupil's progress in developing numeracy skills.
At the Scottish Learning Festival on September 23, 2009, the Education Secretary Fiona Hyslop announced the publication of the strategic vision and key principles for assessment in Curriculum for Excellence . The main differences from the existing assessment arrangements are that:
- Assessment practices will follow and support the new curriculum. This will promote higher quality learning and teaching and give more autonomy and professional responsibility to teachers
- Standards and expectations will be defined in a way that reflects the principles of Curriculum for Excellence . This will support greater breadth and depth of learning and a greater focus on skills development including higher order skills
- A national system of quality assurance and moderation for 3-18 will be developed to support teachers in achieving greater consistency and confidence in their professional judgements
- A National Assessment Resource will help teachers to achieve greater consistency and understanding in their professional judgements. There will also be a major focus on CPD to help teachers develop the skills required
The Scottish Survey of Achievement will also be redesigned to provide more information about young people's literacy and numeracy skills. Later this year, the Scottish Government will later publish a Framework for Assessment for children and young people from age 3-18 which will provide guidance and support to ensure that arrangements for assessment support the principles and purposes of Curriculum for Excellence and build on previous assessment programmes.
The strategic vision and key principles document and a frequently asked questions document is available on the Curriculum for Excellence website.
Further information about the Scottish Survey of Achievement.