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How to review your assessment policy

Know what questions you can ask school leaders and what to look out for in your assessment policy, so you can review it confidently. See examples from primary schools, secondary schools and multi-academy trusts (MATs).

Last reviewed on 17 September 2024See updates
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 38517
Contents
  1. Key facts
  2. Key points to look out for 
  3. 3 key questions to challenge the policy 
  4. Model policies from our sister service, The Key Leaders
  5. Examples of policies from primary schools
  6. Examples of policies from secondary schools
  7. Trust-wide policy examples

Key points to look out for 

This policy isn't statutory, so its contents will vary depending on your approach and context. We've suggested what might be included in an assessment policy, based on:

This article is not meant as a guide for writing a policy, since that’s your senior leaders’ job, and you don't need to cross-check your school's policy with the above guidance or legislation. Instead, use this article to give you a sense of what to look for when reviewing your policy.

A good policy will include the following:

Aims and objectives

Provide clear guidelines on the approach to formative and summative assessment Establish a consistent and coherent approach to recording summative assessment outcomes and reporting to parents/carers Clearly set out how and when assessment