Assessment is an integral part of effective teaching and learning. It allows progress to be recognised and celebrated and it informs the next steps and priorities of both teachers and learners. It is inextricably linked to the curriculum, which provides the content and context of assessment.

Much assessment takes place in day-to-day teaching where learners receive immediate feedback on their understanding of the specific aspect or topic being explored and where teachers adjust their short-term planning in line with learners' needs. At other times, teachers need to stand back and reflect on the learner's overall performance across a subject or aspect of learning, drawing on a wide range of evidence. This more holistic, periodic assessment provides a clear profile of attainment against recognised criteria. It also helps identify the learner's strengths and priorities for improvement and informs the teacher's medium-term planning. This means the teacher is better able to personalise the curriculum for pupils.

Assessing pupils' progress (APP)

Assessing pupils' progress (APP) is designed to improve learning outcomes by providing teachers with more effective assessment approaches.

QCA is continuing to work with the National Strategies and Department for Children, Schools and Families to pilot APP materials with local authorities and schools and then make them available nationally.

APP materials and guidance for key stage 3 English and mathematics were first published in 2006 by the Secondary National Strategy. They have recently been fully revised to include new mathematics standards files, updated reading and writing standards files, level 8 exemplar materials and level related criteria and are now available on the Secondary National Strategy website (see related links section of this page).

Materials and guidance to support the APP approach at key stage 2 for reading, writing and mathematics were developed and piloted during 2006-7. These materials have now been published electronically on the Primary National Strategy website and the link to these materials is available in the related links section of this page. Evaluation reports for the 2006-8 APP key stage 2 pilot will be available to download from this page in 2009.

APP materials currently being developed and piloted by QCA are:

• key stage 3 and primary science
• key stage 3 ICT
• key stage 1 reading, writing and mathematics
• key stage 1, 2 and 3 speaking and listening
• key stage 3 foundation subjects

APP materials and guidance for key stage 3 science and ICT will be published on the Secondary National Strategy website in January 2009, and APP materials and guidance for key stage 1 reading, writing and mathematics will be published on the Primary National Strategy Frameworks website in January 2009 as an extension of the existing primary APP materials. Links to the published materials will be included in the right-hand side of this page when they become available.

Further information on how these approaches relate to personalised learning can be found on the link at the right hand side of this page. A leaflet called Assessing Pupils' Progress: assessment at the heart of learning describes the APP approach to assessment and its benefits; it is now available to download by following the link on the right-hand side of this page. This leaflet can also be ordered in hard copy free of charge by visiting the QCA orderline website.

If you have any questions or feedback about Assessing Pupils' Progress, please contact us by sending an email to app@qca.org.uk.

National Curriculum Assessment

In all national curriculum subjects, the criteria for assessing progress are set out in descriptions of performance at eight levels. These national standards allow teachers, learners and their parents or carers to see how well they are doing in relation to their prior attainment and to expectations for learners of their age. The descriptions have been written so that:

• Level 2 represents expectations for the average 7 year-old
• Level 4 represents expectations for the average 11 year-old
• Level 5-6 represents expectations for the average 14 year-old

Statutory Assessment

Assessment happens all the time, both informally and formally. Occasions during a learners' education when it takes place on a statutory basis and the results are reported are:

• At the end of the Early Years Foundation Stage by means of an observation schedule (the Early Years Foundation Stage Profile) based on progress in relation to the Early Learning Goals within the six Areas of Learning.
• At the end of key stage 1 by teachers' overall judgements. In reading, writing and mathematics these are informed by the use of nationally devised tests and tasks. In science, teachers' judgements are reported.
• At the end of key stages 2 and 3 in two forms - by judgements in English, mathematics and science based on learners' performance over time and in a range of contexts and by national tests in reading, writing, mathematics and science. The outcomes of both of these forms are reported and published. This situation will change from 2009 following the announcement of the Secretary of State to Parliament on 14 October 2008 that National Curriculum tests for pupils at the end of Year 9 (14 year olds) will now cease to be a statutory requirement for schools. Teachers assess progress in the other subjects and report these to parents/carers.

For further information about statutory assessment, visit the National Assessment Agency website which can be accessed via the link on the right-hand side of this page.