Assessment Review Group Report
The Assessment Review Group was established in May 2016 to consider the current system and to try to identify an alternative, better vision for the future. The Assessment Review Group Report published in January 2017 is the culmination of the discussions that took place within the group over a series of meetings. The report sets out a series of principles that should underpin any future assessment system.
Assessment Review Group report PDF (286KB)
EAL Assessment Framework for Schools (December 2016)
The EAL Assessment Framework for Schools was commissioned by The Bell Foundation to provide schools with a straightforward, easy-to-use assessment tool for assessing learners with English as an Additional Language. At its core are EAL assessment descriptors (one set for primary and one set for secondary) that teachers can use for both summative and formative assessment. The descriptors are designed specifically to support the teaching and learning of EAL pupils and to enable teachers to generate targets to guide progress. The framework is underpinned by robust academic research and expertise and has been prepared with busy teachers in mind. (See also Arnot, et al., 2013, Evans, et al. 2016.)
EAL Assessment Framework for Schools PDF (1,767KB)
School Workforce Planning
Published in January 2017, this publication provides non-statutory guidance from the Department for Education on reviewing school staff structures, following requests from school leaders and their representatives. The publication includes:
• a list of options for school leaders to consider;
• questions for school leaders to consider when reviewing their staff structures;
• an example timeline;
• links to advice, case studies and tools for school leaders to use.
School workforce planning guidance January 2017 PDF (247KB)
School Buying Strategy
The schools’ buying strategy (January 2017) is intended to support schools to save over £1 billion a year on their non-staff spend by 2019 – 20. It aims to help all schools improve how they buy goods and services – allowing them to maximise the resources they can invest in high-quality education for their pupils and supporting them in managing cost pressures. This strategy is aimed at:
• all financial staff in schools including school business managers (SBMs), finance directors and bursars;
• headteachers and other school leaders;
• academy trust and school governing bodies.
Schools buying strategy January 2017 PDF (518KB)