Assessment of ICT at Key Stage 3

Contained here are some examples of assessment sheets devised as a result of work with various schools. They are intended to facilitate marking and assessment at the end of units of work.

They are based on the previous sheets available on this web site, but redesigned and related more closely to the KS3 Strategy units.

The top half of the sheet is for use by the pupils, the grid being divided into four columns so that they cannot just choose the middle and the criteria being related to the work covered in the unit.

For them to be able to complete their comment usefully, they will need some extra guidance about areas to consider, depending on the teacher’s experience of working with the class.

The bottom half of the sheet is for teachers to use. The relevant level criteria are there to help teachers judge at which level they think pupils are working. These along with the pupil comment, class observations and the work completed should make it easier for teachers to assess and make comments.

When to use the sheets is an issue, as if teachers are to write the “next steps” at, say, the end of some modelling work with control to follow, how will this work? Should time be built in for pupils to do some additions to their work after the sheets have been completed by the teacher (which may take a while) in order to take advantage of the “next steps” opportunity to reinforce and develop learning?

Another consideration is when to give the sheets to pupils. Should they be handed out or discussed at the start of the unit, so that pupils have a better idea about what is expected from them?

Schools will need to decide whether to tell pupils of the “working at” level or whether to just keep the record themselves.

The sheets are of use to teachers as they provide a way of getting feedback from all pupils. The comments can often spark off a dialogue which continues in the teacher comment. They also form a record of pupil achievement and a bank of comments that can be used by teachers as the basis for summative assessments and to inform comments when writing reports.

Please download them and use them as the basis for your own work on assessment if you wish.