Primary teachers

Submitting answers to reading and listening tests has been changed for Primary candidates

With effect from November 2011, candidates will transfer their answers from their question paper to a separate answer sheet (OMR) before returning them to OCR for marking. The answer sheets will be sent to centres pre-printed with candidate details.

Full instructions on Using Candidate OMR Answer Sheets can be found on pages 81 and 82 of the Asset Languages Admin Guide 2011/12 (PDF, 1 MB).

Asset Languages is a unique assessment scheme which supports language teaching in primary schools.

If you are looking for something to reward and benchmark progress in primary languages, Asset celebrates what children achieve in small steps, one skill at a time. Evidence of achievement in KS2 also helps to smooth transition to KS3 language learning.

How Asset works in KS2

The vast majority of children of primary school age are working at a level within the first (Breakthrough) stage of the languages ladder. For some particularly able young linguists, or for those who speak a home language, their achievements in some skills may be measurable against the second (Preliminary) stage.

There is a choice of two assessment options to suit you and your learners' needs:

Both are flexible and designed to work with any existing scheme of work or programme or study. Assessment material is well designed and accessible for younger learners, with questions in English.

The option of testing in one or two skills builds confidence, whether pupils are learning a language from scratch or improving a language spoken at home.

Primary grades 1-4 teacher assessment

Teacher assessment is an informal classroom-based method of measuring progress and recording achievement in language learning. It can be used whenever children are ready. The teacher assessment pack (TAP) contains stimulating and innovative tasks designed to challenge and motivate young learners.

  • The separate skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing are measured against the first four stages of the Languages Ladder
  • A CD of native speaker recordings is provided for listening tasks
  • Tips on how to carry out the activities, adapt tasks, develop skills and links to the KS2 framework are provided
  • Tasks are supplied in black and white for photocopying and in colour on the accompanying DVD for printing and/or projection
  • The tasks and Grade Awards can be a motivational and rewarding tool giving teachers and learners a chance to recognise progress in very small steps
  • The packs can also be a valuable resource to prepare for external assessment and a useful record for transition to secondary school.

Primary Grades 1-4 Teacher assessment packs are available in French, German and Spanish. These can be ordered from the OCR Publications Catalogue (PDF, 539 KB).

Sample primary teacher assessment tasks are available at the link below:

Useful documents

A key feature of teacher assessment is recording learner’s progress. An electronic version of the class progress sheet template and the learner progress sheet template is available.

Further support on KS2 assessment

Asset Languages and CILT, The National Centre for Languages, have produced support material for KS2 assessment, called Making and marking progress (PDF, 13 MB).

Making and marking progress has been devised on behalf of the DfE to support progression in primary languages by linking the Languages Ladder and Key Stage 2 Framework for Languages. The assessment activities will complement any scheme of work already used by the teacher and are suitable for use with any language.

Materials for Years 3 and 4 were published and distributed to all primary schools in March 2010. Years 5 and 6 were published and distributed in March 2011.

Templates for Making and marking progress

Adaptable assessment opportunity pages are available below for teachers who wish to customise the teaching activities:

For recording children’s progress and sharing information with secondary schools, you may find the following tracking grids helpful:

Presentation

A powerpoint presentation by Vivienne May, co-author of Making and marking progress, is available below.

Feedback

We look forward to receiving feedback on your experience of using Making and marking progress in the classroom. Please email your feedback to primaryprogress@ocr.org.uk, using the form below:

Case studies

Below are case studies showing how teachers are using Asset in their schools: