National Testing of Pupils in Europe: Objectives, Organisation and Use of Results

1. National Testing of Pupils in Europe: Objectives, Organisation and Use of Results Eurydice: i sistemi educativi europei al traguardo del 2010 25 September 2009, MIUR, Rome Teodora Parveva

2. Presentation : • Scope of the report • Main findings • Issues for policy discussion

3. National Testing of Pupils in Europe • Definition of national testing • ISCED levels 1 and 2 • Reference year 2008/09 • Three chapters 1. Historical context 2. Objectives and organisation of tests 3. Use of test results

4. National testing of pupils in Europe1. Historical context • Historical context • Originally for certification • Expansion since the 1990s linked to school autonomy, decentralisation, efforts to improve the quality of education • 2008/09: - no national tests: BE (de), CZ, EL, WLS, LI - not all tests fully implemented: BG, DK, DE, IT, CY, ES, AT

5. National testing of pupils in Europe2. Objectives and organisation 2. 1. Main objectives of national tests • Most often high stakes decisions or monitoring • Less common identification of learning needs • Usually one test has several objectives

6. National testing of pupils in Europe2. Objectives and organisation Main objectives of national tests, ISCED levels 1 and 2, 2008/09 Taking decisions about the school career of pupils Monitoring schools and/or the educational system Identifying individual learning needs x = No national tests

7. National testing of pupils in Europe2. Objectives and organisation 2.2. Organisation of national tests • Whole cohort or sample • Frequency and timing • Tested subjects • Responsible bodies

8. National testing of pupils in Europe3. Use of test results 3. Use of test results with regard to: • individual pupils • school-level policy • national education policy

9. National testing of pupils in Europe3. Use of test results Use of results for individual pupil’s school career, ISCED levels 1 and 2, 2008/09

10. National testing of pupils in Europe3. Use of test results Use of test results to improve school policy: • In most countries schools receive data for comparision with the national average + other schools • Improvement strategies are usually left up to schools

11. National testing of pupils in Europe3. Use of test results A minority of countries: • Take account of test results in school evaluation • Publish aggregated data for each school

12. National testing of pupils in Europe2. Objectives and organisation Use of test results in school evaluation, ISCED levels 1 and 2, 2008/09 A. Test results used in external evaluation B. Recommendations for the use of test results in internal evaluation No A and no B No national tests

13. National testing of pupils in Europe3. Use of test results Publication of individual schools’ results in national tests, ISCED levels 1 and 2, 2008/09 Publication organised, or required of schools, by central/local government Publication at the discretion of schools No publication No national tests

14. National testing of pupils in Europe3. Use of test results Use of test results by national governments • Reports on the state of the education system • Measures to address disparities between schools or poor national performance • Reforms of study programmes or continuing professional development programmes

15. National testing of pupils in EuropeSummary • Three national tests during compulsory education • Tests serve several purposes • Participation of whole cohort • Organised by an agency • Results rarely published or used for school evaluation

16. National testing of pupils in EuropePolicy issues for discussion • Single or multiple objectives • Use of combination of assessment instruments • Need for performance data vs risk of over-testing • Possible narrowing of curricula • How to test skills, not only content • Assessment as part of the learning process