Assessment and Learning in the Secondary School

Book excerpt: Assessment is now regarded as a 'high stakes' issue: schools, teachers, and individual pupils are often judged by the results of national tests and public examinations. This book addresses both formal and informal ways of assessing children's work and progress. Pupils' learning is often neglected in the debate, so this book puts what children actually learn right at its centre and involves them sensibly and appropriately in the improvement of teaching and learning. The book is divided into six units where Ted Wragg address topics such as: * principles and purposes of assessment * written, oral and practical evaluation * self-assessment the 'whole school' approach * staff development and appraisal. The inclusion of tried and tested practical activities, discussion topics, photographs, cartoons and case examples makes this a very user-friendly book for both trainee and experienced teachers in secondary schools. This is one of a set of eight innovative yet practical resource books for teachers, focussing on the classroom and covering vital skills for primary and secondary teachers. The books are strongly influenced by the findings of numerous research projects during which hundreds of teachers were observed at work. The first editions of the series were bestsellers, and these revised second editions will be equally welcomed by teachers eager to improve their teaching skills.