As OFSTED reports have pointed out for many years, assessment in history is not strong in most schools and the situation is not really improving. Part of the problem has always been with the NC levels. Thankfully they have now been abandoned and have no legal status. Most primary schools ignored them anyway.The problem now, of course, is what we replace them with. We have been promised expert exemplification but i wouldn’t hold your breath. Where has it been over the last 20 years!
So, in lieu of anything better I have produced a set of diagnostic tasks which should give you some interesting evidence on which to base your judgements and as a way of moving pupils’ learning on.
What you will find on this site is a very practical manageable system which has been very effectively used by hundreds of schools that I have worked with over the last 10 years since the first tasks were trialled.
The following top 7 principles give you an idea of the direction in which you should be heading
1. Why are you assessing?
Think carefully about why you are assessing and who will benefit.
2. Make it manageable
Assessment must be
