Secondary science assessment: Moving beyond data generation to impactful action

This session will consider how assessment has evolved in secondary science, and how we can make it work harder for both teachers and students. Join us for an engaging fireside chat that explores the shifting landscape of assessment in secondary science, from the high-stakes, summative focus of the past to the increasing emphasis on low-stakes, formative assessment strategies.   Our conversation will trace how approaches to assessment have changed over time, highlighting the growing recognition of the need to check for understanding continuously and responsively. We will explore the practicalities and challenges of live marking and other formative assessment strategies and how we try to ensure that we are gaining rich, frequent insights into student learning, to benefit both teacher and student. We will examine the key distinction between collecting assessment data and using it to drive improvement, which is often overlooked due to our many competing priorities. We will discuss moving beyond surface-level analysis to focus on the analysis of skills, such as extended writing, practical and enquiry skills, and maths skills. By focusing more on these transferable skills, can teachers better identify patterns and gaps that inform meaningful intervention? Crucially, we will examine the concept of ‘closing the loop’ for maximum impact: moving from generating data and analysing gaps, to diagnosing the reasons behind student difficulties, and then planning and implementing targeted responses. We will discuss practical strategies and share good practice on how we ensure that action is both informed and effective. Throughout our discussions, we consider how we can manage teacher workload, for example, making use of digital testing platforms such as Educake for question delivery and data analysis, so that our time is freed to focus on the valuable tasks of understanding the ‘why’ behind student performance and planning responsive teaching. Whether you are looking to refine your current assessment practice or seeking new approaches to make data work for you and your students, this session will provide practical insights and actionable strategies to take back to your classroom.