ABSTRACT

As with differentiated lesson material, the importance of marking has become central to the critique of good and bad teaching in the minds of Inspectors and school managers. It is, in my opinion, a much over-rated and ridiculously time-consuming occupation when taken to the extremes that many teachers spend on it. In difficult schools, it does have a useful purpose to fulfil in enhancing the motivation of the pupils but only if a balance is struck between marking and all the other pressing priorities of a busy school day. It should never take priority over effective lesson planning and following up a simple rewards and sanctions policy in the classroom.