Curriculum and Assessment in Scotland: National Guidelines

Published in 1991 by the Scottish Office Education Department, the Assessment 5-14 guidance provided a basis for effective, coherent and manageable assessment of students' achievements in relation to standards of attainment set out in the 5-14 curriculum guidelines. Covering planning, teaching, recording of assessments, reporting and evaluating, it was expected that good assessment policies and practices would improve teaching and learning in schools. A separate set of guidelines for reporting was published in November 1992. These include specimen pages of a new form of report which was consistent with the policies and practices set out in the main assessment guidelines. The reporting guidelines explain what makes a good report and set out the format and frequency of reporting, along with recommendations for involving parents, students and other teachers. A section is included which is concerned with promoting equality of opportunity for different genders and for students with special educational needs or from differing multicultural and social backgrounds.