Cripsat: Current Projects/ National Test Development for Wales / Generating assessment items

Current Projects / Non-statutory assessment and curriculum
materials for Wales / Generating assessment items

E-learning and
e-assessment

National Test and Task development for England

Non-statutory assessment and curriculum materials for Wales


	Generating assessment items Team Related links Express an interest

Assessment of Sub-Saharan Numeracy and Literacy

Assessing progress in science

Select here for Welsh translation.

Generating assessment Items

One of CRIPSAT's criteria for generating high quality assessment items is to work alongside KS2 teachers. Despite the fact that both core-team members are experienced primary practitioners (testifying to over twenty years of primary teaching between them), they are under no illusions about the necessity to ensure that assessment items must not only have classroom validity amongst teachers, but also extensive ‘street credibility’ amongst pupils.

This strong desire to mature a partnership with KS2 teachers
manifests itself in a number of ways:

1. The observation of good practice in schools

Many year 5 and 6 teachers are more than happy to share the contents of an interesting and perhaps novel science lesson that they have taught. The more robust will allow a member of the core-team to observe or even participate in a practical science lesson. When confronted with the question 'Have you done any exciting science with your class recently?' teachers will often respond by saying 'No just the usual activities. But when subjected to further questioning, the 'usual' often turns into the 'unusual and very interesting'. Discussions with pupils can also generate fresh contexts for assessment items.

If you have some exciting science work going on in your school,
why not contact the team at CRIPSAT to arrange a visit.

2. Writing meetings

KS2 teachers with a proven track record of excellence in primary science are invited to be part of the writing process, working along side members of the core team at CRIPSAT. Such collaborations ensure that teachers are given an opportunity not only to share their classroom experiences, but also to gain an insight into the process of writing and development of assessment items and curriculum materials.