Teachers' Assessment and National Testing in Primary Schools in Scotland: roles and relationships

Abstract

ABSTRACT The revised arrangements for national testing, introduced into primary schools in Scotland in January 1993, give the tests a role in confirming teachers' assessments of when pupils have achieved certain levels of attainment. The test units, in reading, writing and mathematics, are used at any time, with individual pupils or with groups, at teachers' discretion. This paper draws upon evidence gathered by questionnaire and interview with primary school teachers and headteachers during a 4‐year evaluation of the implementation of the non‐statutory guidelines of the 5‐14 development programme, the Scottish national curriculum. It explores how teachers are carrying out formative assessment and how they decide when a pupil is likely to succeed in test units at a certain level. There was evidence of considerable moves towards teachers' assessment becoming more systematic, wide‐ranging and more often recorded. However, the moderating role of the tests material has not been taken on board by the majority ...