The embedding formative assessment programme was created following over ten years of research by Dylan Wiliam and Siobhan Leahy. All elements of the programme underwent rapid prototype testing, from the size of teacher learning community groups, the time between workshops and the structure of the sessions. The structure of the session alone is on its approximately thirteenth iteration.
Since 2015 and the successful Education Endowment Foundation research trial, over 400 schools have engaged with the programme.
After a year of review, working closely with Dylan Wiliam and Siobhan Leahy we are delighted to launch the updated Embedding Formative Assessment programme.
What’s changed?
We have better harnessed Dylan’s expertise and introduced recordings of Dylan speaking throughout the programme. This includes a one-hour introductory session for all staff. Following workshops, teachers will also have access to more short videos to support them in exploring specific techniques and ideas.
A few minor changes have been made to the order of the sessions based on feedback from schools. For example, the programme now leads with a focus on eliciting quality evidence from learners. Better depth and breadth of evidence leads to teachers making better decisions and better learning. Learning intentions and success criteria have been brought together into one workshop. This has reduced the number of workshops to eight per year.
The techniques shared have been reviewed, with some being removed and new techniques added. We have ensured that there is a good range and balance of techniques across the workshops to ensure there are techniques suitable for all phases.
Although we know teachers love new teaching ideas and techniques, the focus remains on habit change in the classroom. Teachers work on one or two techniques until they are effective and become part of daily practice. The focus must be on how techniques meet the principles of formative assessment. The evidence base doesn’t lie with the individual techniques but putting the five strategies into practice.
Find out more about Embedding Formative Assessment, a two-year professional development programme for all schools and colleges that has been independently proven to increase student achievement.
