ABSTRACT
There are a number of reasons why teachers need to assess pupils and these fall broadly into the following categories (see also Learning to Teach MLF in the Secondary School, second edition, Routledge):
• to determine the extent to which the learning objectives for any lesson/series of lessons have been met;
• to evaluate how effective specific teaching strategies may have been in bringing about the desired learning;
• to identify what pupils may need to do next in order to develop their learning further; • to measure performance in relation to other pupils, or in relation to a specific set of
criteria; • to gain external accreditation; • to predict how pupils may perform (e.g. in external examinations); • as a tool for increasing motivation; • to provide the information needed to report on the progress of individual students to
others (e.g. parents and carers); • to inform decisions as to which teaching groups pupils may be placed in.
