As a follow up to last months effectively assessing enterprise capability article, this month we provide an overview of the six different approaches for assessment identified in the Assessing Enterprise Capability: Guidance for Schools document, Further information on each is available from http://www.nfer.ac.uk/research-areas/projects/assessing-enterprise-capability-guidance-for-schools.cfm
Published by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER) on behalf of the Department for Children Schools and Families the guidance is a must read for those involved in supporting enterprise education at secondary school level.
During its research the NFER identified six approaches that are currently being used in some secondary schools in England.
1: Enterprise Passport
An enterprise passport is designed to allow students to keep a
record of how they have demonstrated each of the 41 enterprise
capabilities relating to enterprising qualities, attitudes, behaviour,
knowledge and understanding and skills. Each page is then verified and
the enterprise coordinator ‘signs off’ a completed passport.
2: Performance Radar
Students use a web-based assessment tool to record evidence of
activities demonstrating 12 enterprise capabilities. Evidence can
include: word documents, digital photographs, PowerPoint presentations.
3: Benchmarking of enterprise capability
Developed by an independent consultant this approach sees students
self-assess their own enterprise capability using either a paper-based
or online review sheet on a half-termly basis. Students are asked to
score themselves on 25 enterprise capabilities and can also set
themselves targets for improvement.
4: Personalised Effectiveness Tool (PET)
School staff record details of planned enterprise activities in an
online proforma i.e. type of activity, its aims, the outcomes, the
students involved, and the enterprise capabilities to be developed.
Once the activity has been completed, student self-assessment and
teacher assessment is carried out.
5: Award Scheme
Students complete self assessment sheets and evidence logs via the
school virtual learning environment. There are three levels, key stage;
3 (Bronze), 4 (Silver) and 5 (Gold). Students use evidence from across
the curriculum and outside lessons to record how they demonstrate 15
enterprise capabilities.
6: In-lesson assessment of enterprise capabilities
Focusing on one of six enterprise capabilities each half term,
assessment forms are given to students before the start and end of a
project/lesson. The assessment involves students getting feedback from
their peers and teachers on a regular basis.
The NFER outlines key considerations schools might find useful to inform their own practice these are:
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Decide whether to develop your own approach or adapt one already developed by another school
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Determine which assessment approach is best suited to your school context and its delivery of enterprise education
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Decide when the approach would be used i.e. to assess enterprise ability across the curriculum, for off-timetable enterprise activities or other work-related learning activities
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Identify who will be responsible for carrying out the assessment i.e. teachers, students, peers
To download a copy of Assessing Enterprise Capability: Guidance for Schools document visit http://www.nfer.ac.uk/research-areas/projects/assessing-enterprise-capability-guidance-for-schools.cfm
Our mission for EnterpriseUpfront is to share good and best practice across UK enterprise communities, if your ways of assessing enterprise capability are successful please share them with us and our readers.
To discuss making a contribution to EnterpriseUpfront contact Emma Kerr, EnterpriseUpfront Editor on 0191 428 3435 or email editor@enterpriseupfront.com.