Assessment For Learning: What Does It Mean For Pupils And Their Teachers In An Independent School?

The purpose of this research was to explore current practice in my department with regard to Assessment for Learning (AfL). I wanted to gauge the pupils' understanding of how they are assessed, discuss with members of the department current practice and decide whether or not there is a place for this government initiative within an independent school. To do this, I decided upon action research as I wanted to improve learning and current teaching practice. I had to assess whether a change to this needed to be implemented. I used qualitative methods: questioimaires and interviews in order to ascertain the information from the pupils and staff. The findings showed that there was a disparity between the way the individual classes were marked and assessed which did not always conform to the department policy of how work is marked or the school policy on marking. Thus it was clear that a new, uniform policy would be beneficial within the department which all members need to adhere to. I gathered the results together to present to the department for discussion on the way forward in the hope of implementing some aspects of AfL as part of this new policy.Faculty of Arts and Educatio