DfE seeks to reassure teachers with "clarification" of controversial new primary assessments

The government has sought to reassure teachers who are up in arms about new primary assessment arrangements with a much-anticipated clarification document published tonight. Here are the main points:

Writing redrafted by a pupil is acceptable for assessment as independent work. Redrafted work may be in response to self or peer evaluation, or after discussion with a teacher.
But work which has been copied or where the teacher has directed to change specific words or punctuation would not be judged independent.
Writing where pupils have independently used classroom resources such as dictionaries or websites is also acceptable.
The evidence required to support teacher assessment judgements must show that a pupil demonstrates attainment of all of the ‘pupil can’ statements within the standard they have been awarded. But there is no need to produce specific evidence to show they have met lower standards.
There is no requirement to provide tick sheets for a moderation visit.

Teachers and headteachers have been widely concerned that the standard set for the new writing assessment was not the level 4b which they had been expecting, but instead closer to the higher level 5.

The clarification document states: “In the new system the threshold of the expected standard is broadly equivalent to the previous level 4b, but pupils working at the expected standard will have a range of attainment.”

Don't worry, please call us anyway to discuss your ideal job.

13/03/25The government faces a "now or never moment" to hit its target of recruiting 6,500 new teachers in England

The government faces a "now or never moment" to hit its target of recruiting 6,500 new teachers in England by the end of its term, a new report has suggested. Analysis by the National Foundation of Educational Research (NFER) says unfilled vacancies are at a record high and recruitment into teacher training remains "persistently low." All but five secondary subjects missed this year's recruitment targets for new trainee teachers, which are set by the Department for Education (DfE).

06/03/25Medway children offered secondary school places as the number who got their first choice revealed

A total of 96% of children were offered places at a secondary school of their choice in Medway

04/03/25Schools to trial social media blackout scheme

Three schools in Surrey are launching a pilot programme to restrict mobile phone usage in an attempt to improve pupils' wellbeing. The secondary schools, which are part of the GLF Schools trust, are to trial an app that blocks social media, messaging and other apps which they believe are "distracting" during school hours. GLF Schools said the expected benefits were more focus in the classroom, a calmer learning environment and improved student mental health.

25/02/25First Kent schools named in free breakfast club pilot

The first schools in Kent and Medway to offer free breakfast clubs for pupils as part of a government scheme have been revealed.

24/02/25Schoolchildren have swapped French for British Sign Language

Children in Castle Hill Community Primary School in Folkestone have swapped French lessons for British Sign Language (BSL)

1 January 2025

9thSend is the 'bggest issue' for schools - Ofsted