“When used effectively, assessment helps pupils to embed knowledge and use it fluently, and assists teachers in producing clear next steps for pupils.” Ofsted: Education Inspection Framework 2019

Good formative assessment has always been an essential component of effective teaching. Teachers (and leaders) who are clear about the principles and purposes of assessment are better able to make informed use of the range of strategies and techniques that will help them to understand their children’s starting points and ensure that their teaching meets their learners’ needs.

Our Assessment team members are accredited and approved by STA for the delivery of statutory assessment duty on behalf of Birmingham LA in EYFS, KS1 and KS2 and national moderator training materials. Advisers have regularly participated in professional development events led by nationally respected organisations such as AAIA and assessment experts, including Jan Dubiel, Dylan Wiliam, Shirley Clarke and James Nottingham to develop excellence in formative assessment practice.

We offer the following areas of expertise:

• All aspects of formative assessment (AfL) in teaching and learning, including developing clear learning objectives and success criteria, effective feedback for learning, questioning and peer and self-assessment
• Analysing data to inform strategic priorities, including ASP, IDSR and FFT Aspire
• Developing assessment without levels
• Standardisation and moderation of standards in EYFS Early Learning goals and core subjects, KS1 and KS2
• Developing a growth mindset and learning ethos/culture
• Information evenings for parents/governors
• Supporting curriculum subject leaders to develop assessment in their subject
• Planning for progress: ‘knowing more and remembering more’ using cognitive science
• Moving learning forward through assessment: supporting staff to use pupil voice and book scrutinies to evaluate the learning journey and key gaps
• Closing the attainment gap – focusing on assessment strategies and approaches to address the needs of disadvantaged pupils
• Audit/review of whole school assessment systems

We have successfully worked across all phases with MATs, consortia, schools, leaders, teachers and teaching assistants, governors and parents to enable them to develop and understand more effective assessment approaches to maximise pupil engagement and progress, and to develop effective learning cultures in their settings.

Our training can be fully flexible to meet your requirements and we are happy to discuss your needs on a one to one basis to create a session which exactly meets your needs.

For more information contact us here.

About the Adviser

Denise Harris - Adviser, Services For Education

Denise has enjoyed many years working as a qualified teacher in Birmingham. She has taught across the age range in schools, in an Education Action Zone, and in a Youth Offending Unit.  As a local authority primary numeracy consultant, she has supported many schools to effectively develop their maths provision, and this continues through her management of the very successful 'Every Child Counts' mathematics interventions, developed and supported by Edge Hill University, and which are proven to have a significant impact, not only on underachieving and SEND pupils, but also on teacher and teaching assistant subject and pedagogical knowledge, classroom and whole school practice.

Nowadays, Denise successfully delivers the primary statutory assessment contract for moderation and monitoring on behalf of Birmingham LA. She has been instrumental in effectively managing the changes over time to the statutory assessment processes but does not lose sight of the need for schools and teachers to make use of ongoing formative assessment strategies as part of the teaching and learning process to monitor pupil progress. In her statutory role, Denise works closely with other moderation managers both locally and nationally to ensure a consistent understanding of national guidance and related requirements. She recruits, trains, and accredits both KS1 and KS2 pool moderators and utilises her knowledge and understanding of these processes to ensure, through her training offer, that schools are equipped to fulfil their statutory duty confidently.