Category Archives: Key Stage 3

Choosing your brick wall

I have been exploring an issue with a friend recently. It is to do with how we respond to the demands by Ofsted and schools for 4 levels of progress through KS3 and beyond. The problem for me is not … Continue reading

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Scaffolding peer assessment

I spent a day in an art department last week (a departmental review) which was really interesting and it was good to spend time with committed teachers. It was intriguing to note, and reflect on, the (school policy) opportunities for … Continue reading

Posted in Animation, Assessment, Key Stage 3, Key Stage 4 | Leave a comment

Let’s not make the same mistake again

Actually it’s not really very complicated. Put simply, we should not have let the recording and reporting part of ARR (Assessment, Recording and Reporting) distort the assessment bit. It’s the tail wagging the dog and it was, and is, a … Continue reading

Posted in Assessment, Key Stage 3, levels | 4 Comments

Farewell to all that

Today the government have announced the demise of levels, which was not unexpected. Mr Gove’s letter to the expert panel is also not unexpected in its extravagant rhetoric and assertion which stands in for reasoned argument. It is unlikely that … Continue reading

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Making a Mark: with luck.

I am just reading Making a Mark (HMI March 2012) which is the latest report about art education in England by my old friend and colleague Ian (otherwise known as HMI). Click here for a copy. It is so overwhelmingly sensible … Continue reading

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Cultural Education in England

It is always important not to confuse a profusion of platitudes with intelligence. The (Henley) report ‘Cultural Education in England’ repeats many well-meaning and worthy principles and, of course, it is to be welcomed. There are some genuinely valuable insights … Continue reading

Posted in Creativity, Just Stuff, Key Stage 3, primary | 1 Comment

Key Stage 3 Assessment – levels 1 and 2 updated

Last year I worked with QCDA on a programme to develop exemplar materials for assessment in art in KS3 (levels 3-7). The programme was also related to the programme to extend APP (Assessing Pupil Progress) in the core subjects. Basically … Continue reading

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Assessment Papers and Practice

Last year QCDA developed exemplar materials to support the assessment of national curriculum levels in KS3 for all foundation subjects. These materials were published in July 2010. They are really helpful on a variety of levels. They provide a much … Continue reading

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New Assessment Guidance for KS3 Art- APP probably

QCDA has just published the online exemplification of standards materials. These provide much more than just examples of levels. They provide an illustration of good assessment practice and embrace the principles of good assessment which is at the heart of … Continue reading

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On Display

Coming in to work this morning through Aylesbury shopping centre it was good to see a set of large panels from the Cottesloe School. They are from Year 9 students and follow study of Japanese art including Manga. Really impressive … Continue reading

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