OCTOBER 2014 CONSULTATION ON PERFORMANCE DESCRIPTORS INTRODUCATION Curriculum and Assessment

Performance descriptors New performance descriptors have recently been published. These will inform statutory teacher assessment at the end of key stage 1 and 2 in summer Final versions will be published by September The new performance descriptors will inform teacher assessments at the end of key stages 1 and 2 in key subjects.

The place of TA in floor standards The teacher assessment of key subjects will contribute to the measures used for the new primary floor standard from At key stage 1, this is reading, writing and mathematics. At key stage 2 it is writing (alongside test results in reading and mathematics). To ensure that a broad picture of children’s attainment is maintained, teacher assessment will also be statutory for science at key stage 1, and reading, mathematics and science at key stage 2. The teacher assessment of these subjects will not form part of the new floor standard.

Structure The performance descriptors are closely aligned to the new national curriculum and have been drafted with experts, including teachers, representatives from Local Authorities, curriculum and subject experts. It is not advisable to use them for teacher assessment in assessment systems until September 2015 when the final versions have been published. Performance descriptors will not be written for other subjects.

Key StageSubject Performance descriptors National Curriculum Test Included in floor standard? Key stage 1ReadingFourExternally set, internally marked testTeacher assessment Key stage 1Writing Four No writing test. English grammar, punctuation and spelling test Teacher assessment Key stage 1Mathematics Four Externally set, internally marked testTeacher assessment Key stage 1Science One No science testNot in floor standard Key stage 2Writing FiveNo writing test. English grammar, punctuation and spelling test Teacher assessment Key stage 2Mathematics One Externally set, externally marked test. National curriculum test Key stage 2Science One Biennial sample testsNot in floor standard Key stage 2ReadingOne Externally set, externally marked testNational curriculum test

Using the performance descriptors The performance descriptors are designed to only be used to inform teacher assessment at the end of each key stage. The draft performance descriptors set out the characteristics of the performance of pupils in relation to the national curriculum programmes of study at the end of each key stage. They have been drafted to match the pitch of the published test frameworks (where applicable) and the language of the programmes of study. Teachers will be expected to make their professional judgements by being familiar with the new performance descriptors and, as now, using national exemplification to arrive at judgements which are consistent with national standards.

Using the performance descriptors Teachers will need to confirm which description most closely matches a pupil’s overall attainment. There are currently no weightings given to any element within the performance descriptors, so pupils must demonstrate the majority of the elements described. Teachers should refer to a range of evidence drawn from classwork and independent work, including the outcomes of statutory tests, where available, at the end of key stage 1.

Lower attaining pupils Teachers will need to determine, where relevant, whether to assess pupils with special educational needs against the P-scales or against the performance descriptors. This should be based on which one most closely matches the pupil’s overall attainment at the end of the key stage for each subject. There will be some pupils who are not assessed against the P-scales (because they are working above P8 or because they do not have special educational needs), but who have not yet achieved the contents of the ‘below national standard’ performance descriptor (in subjects with several descriptors). In such cases, pupils will be given a code (which will be determined) to ensure that their attainment is still captured. In subjects with only one performance descriptor, all pupils not assessed against the P-scales will be marked in the same way – meeting, or not meeting, the ‘national standard’.

Mastery The performance descriptors do not include any aspects of performance from the programme of study for the following key stage. Any pupils considered to have attained the ‘Mastery standard’ are expected to explore the curriculum in greater depth and build on the breadth of their knowledge and skills within that key stage.

Next steps The draft performance descriptors will be trialled in a representative sample of schools during the summer term 2015 to evaluate their effectiveness in providing the basis for valid and reliable assessment outcomes. The outcomes of the trials and the feedback from this consultation process will inform the final stages of development of the performance descriptors and the development of: statutory arrangements for teacher assessment using the performance descriptors; final guidance for schools (and those responsible for external moderation arrangements) on how the performance descriptors should be used; an updated national model for the external moderation of teacher assessment; and nationally developed exemplification of the work of pupils for each performance descriptor at the end of each key stage.