Leaders - Assessment

The Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages sets out clear expectations about what children should be able to do by the end of each year. Combined with the Framework objectives, these expectations can be used in assessing children’s progress and describing their attainment. Assessment for learning should be a regular element of language lessons in order that teachers can react appropriately to children’s developing knowledge and skills.

Language lessons can only successful if they are planned with a full awareness of the stage children have reached. Effective language teaching motivates children by giving them a sense of achievement so there are instances at which some summative assessment, too, can be valuable. As language learning extends over the four years of Key Stage 2, it is essential that schools build in a systematic programme of assessment in order to properly monitor children’s progress.

AfL in practice

The German teacher in a large primary school talks about how she uses a self-assessment technique with children as a result of collaboration with a university researcher.