August 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference is bringing together key stakeholders and policymakers to examine the next steps for primary assessment in England.
The seminar will be an opportunity to consider the preparations and practicalities for the new teacher mediated baseline assessment, which the Government has recently announced will now be introduced in September 2021.
Delegates will also look at the challenges surrounding the continuation of other forms of primary assessment such as key stage 1 and 2 SATs during the coming school year in light the COVID-19 pandemic.
The agenda includes keynote contributions from: Rebekah Edgar, Head of Assessment Policy, Standards and Testing Agency, Department for Education; Carole Willis, Chief Executive, NFER; and Tim Oates, Group Director, Assessment Research and Development, Cambridge Assessment - as well as from Alison Ley, Lead, Engagement Model Delivery, Department for Education; Research and Development Manager, Castle Hill School and Director, Pennine Teaching School Alliance; and Louise Ling, Teaching School Director, SEND Teaching School and Interim Chief Executive Officer, The Lift Partnership Multi-Academy Trust.
Overall the seminar will be an opportunity to consider:
- national rollout of the baseline assessment
- the future for primary assessment beyond reception
- the wider impact of COVID-19 on attainment and the practical implementation of assessment across primary schooling
- assessment of children below the national curriculum standard
The discussion in detail:
Implementation of teacher-mediated baseline assessment across primary schools, including:
- what has been learnt following completion of the trial for the baseline assessment
- with the test to become statutory for schools in September 2021, how taking measures in the coming year could be impacted by COVID-19
- implications of the tests for primary schools - particularly its likely impact on teachers and pupils
- the design of the test and its effectiveness in demonstrating the progress of children
Assessment in primary schools in the years after reception with discussion on:
- effective measurement of school and pupil progress with the ending of tests at Key Stage 1
- the place of formative assessment as an alternative approach to assessment at primary level
Assessing those below standard for national curriculum tests, with discussion expected on priorities and how a more inclusive model can be created for:
- assessing those below the national standard
- developing greater understanding around the specific needs of these learners
Developments that are relevant to the discussion:
- Baseline assessment to become statutory for schools in September 2021
- Government’s intention to make Key Stage 1 assessment non-statutory from September 2023
- Trials of multiplication table checks, which schools will be required to administer to Year 4 pupils from June 2020
- The Government continuing to implement the recommendations of the Rochford Review, with the introduction of assessment on the seven aspects of engagement for cognition for non-subject-specific study - responsiveness, curiosity, discovery, anticipation, persistence, initiation, and investigation - which had been introduced for this school year
The agenda:
- Policy priorities for the baseline assessment
- Reception Baseline Assessment: facts v myths
- Preparing for the statutory introduction of baseline assessment and its likely impact - the design of the test, use of data, and the impact on pupils and teachers
- What constitutes good primary assessment?
- Primary assessment beyond reception - measuring school progress, the use of formative assessment and the implementation of multiplication checks
- Assessing the needs of learners below the standard of the national curriculum tests - progress since the Rochford Review and implementation of the new Engagement Model
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders. Places have been reserved by parliamentary pass-holders from the House of Commons Library, and officials from the Department for Education.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
