Smart Marking - making marking meaningful, manageable and motivating again!

Just 45 per cent of primary and 44 per cent of secondary teachers have had a review of marking in their school (NEU teachers’ union, 2018 survey)

How to mark smart

Smart marking involves relying less on traditional techniques and becoming open to methods that might seem counterintuitive at first. This can be difficult for teachers who have been teaching for a number of years, and it can be doubly difficult to convince school leaders to change their policy to these methods.

However, with no evidence to suggest it is always effective, ‘triple-impact marking’ (the usual method of marking and grading an entire piece of work in depth) is most likely not the best course of action for regular feedback.

Teachers need to capitalise on the Hattie and EEF research which has shown that feedback strategies, such as self reported grading are one of the most effective ways of improving progress.

This course is designed for staff at schools who already understand the benefits of effective marking and feedback who are looking to move away from unhelpful and time-consuming marking processes and return the focus to improving pupil outcomes through feedback. Discover a range of ideas informed by research that can be used immediately for the benefit of both teachers and their students, to ensure that pupils achieve the highest outcomes.

Course Outline

Expert guide to smart marking & feedback strategies

• Current feedback and marking climate, including Ofsted’s & ISI’s perspective
• What are the issues with Triple Impact Marking and how to move to a more meaningful practice?
• The research behind smart marking and how to translate this into practice
• Changing the mindset behind marking
• Integrating assessment into teachers planning

Making marking meaningful, manageable and motivating again!

• Key principles upon which any sensible marking policy should be based
• The 4 stages of feedback
• How to work with colleagues to evaluate and moderate teaching and planning
• Best-practice ideas of assessment and marking policies that reduce workload and increase student learning

A practical toolkit of feedback strategies to improve performance

• Techniques for oral feedback designed to benefit the pupils
• Ideas for gathering feedback during lessons
• Strategies for how to respond to feedback within lessons, including how to effectively differentiate for all learners
• Methods for developing independent learning capabilities
• The power of Self Reported grades – achieve up to three years of additional growth in learning for every year.

Presenter Profile

John Medlicott (@johnmedlicott) is the Director of JMC Education (www.jmcinset.com), having held a number of key academic and pastoral leadership roles in schools and colleges. John still teaches in an Ofsted Outstanding School and has taught for over 20 years. As a teacher trainer & school improvement consultant he works with schools across the UK and internationally. He is regularly graded as “outstanding” by delegates on their evaluation forms. John has spoken recently on challenge and differentiation at a National Conference for Deputy Head teachers and is a regular Keynote speaker and workshop provider in School Leadership and Teaching and Learning.

Feedback from teachers on this course

"Transformational"
David Luard, Northcote Lodge School

“Has really helped me confirm how I need to address the marking policy”
Katherine Hyland, Assistant Head, St Anne’s Catholic School for Girls

Cost: £250 per delegate; £299 for 2 teachers from the same school booking on this course

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