The article focuses on the planning and implementation of interim assessment tasks in Key Stage 3 Geography. This research identifies three key dimensions which impact on the planning of assessment in the medium and long term. These are: teachers' emerging conceptualization of "formative assessment"; the statutory requirements for…

This document explores the rationale and technical issues underlying the proposal for a common credit framework in Great Britain. This volume, aimed at senior institutional managers, curriculum managers, and practitioners, offers advice on levels, credit value, and award of credit within the framework proposal. A list of terminology is found at…

The 5-14 Development Programme was a major reform encompassing the whole of the curriculum, assessment, national testing and reporting for students aged 5 to 14 years in Scotland. Between 1989 and 1993 national guidelines were developed for five curricular areas--English language, mathematics, environmental studies, expressive arts, and…

A recently completed landmark study of mathematics and science education in more than 40 countries gathered information that can help address questions about why students in one country do better than students in another. Results from the Third International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMMS) will be released beginning in the fall of 1996…

"Thinking Science," the Cognitive Acceleration through Science Education (CASE) curriculum, is a program designed for 11-14 year olds (in the first two years of secondary school) which encourages them to reflect on their own thinking and to develop their reasoning power in tackling novel problems. This study presents results that represent the…

This book examines the American and British perspectives of effective schools to answer the following questions: How effective have schools been? Are they effective now? How do we know? and What do we mean by "effective schools"? The book analyzes the changes and reasons for the changes in ways in which schools have been considered…

This sequel to "Recording Progress" (Pathfinder 1) reiterates the principles of recording for continuous assessment in second language learning and describes the British system originally adopted to implement those principles. Implications of the National Curriculum for continuous assessment are considered and then ways are suggested for…

This keynote lecture evaluates the national curriculum for primary education in England and Wales that has been in the process of being implemented since 1987. It critiques six assumptions that have been relied on in the implementation of the curriculum and offers, with caveats, six steps toward solution or amelioration. The national curriculum as…

This article draws on postmodern curriculum theories to present a critical analysis of the drastic curriculum changes that took place in China during its Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). It is hoped that a postmodern perspective will shed some light on why the educational reforms failed during this period. The text examines both sides of the…

The effects of the significant changes in English education that have followed the 1988 Education Reform Act are explored in this study that considers the impact of the Reform Act on elementary schools and the changes in primary (elementary) schooling as an illustration of wider social developments. The work of B. Bernstein provides a framework…

In the spring of 1991 a two-part questionnaire was mailed to a nationwide sample of 100 uppersecondary teachers in England. Usable responses were received from 72 teachers. The purposes of this study were the following: (1) to describe the impact of the 1988 British Reform Act on Education; (2) to determine teacher perceptions in selected publicly…

American educators can learn a great deal from monitoring the educational changes taking place in England as the British model for a national curriculum is put into practice. This curriculum, mandated by the Education Reform Act of 1988, is being phased into the schools on a multi-year schedule, with complete implementation scheduled for 1995. The…

This document discusses the state of science education in primary school before and after the introduction of the National Curriculum in 1989 established science as a core subject. The first half describes research and specific efforts to improve science education in the primary grades. It includes the following sections: (1) "Background to…

A British initiative that aims to identify, develop, and assess core skills in post-16 courses and qualifications is summarized in this bulletin. The first section discusses expectations regarding what core skills can achieve. The following section focuses on other purposes to which core skills could contribute, such as broadening the post-16…

This second report of the National Council is an outgrowth of a conference conducted as an inservice program for members of the Council's parent organization, the National Association of Secondary School Principals. The report contains four papers which examine problems, issues, and perspectives about the improvement of American secondary…