In the same project, a teacher explored the problems and effects of
descriptive, non-competitive assessment as an alternative to competitive
numerical grading. The project began with work in an ‘alternative’
programme for low-achieving year 10 students. The teacher reasoned
that these students had a low sense of their own worth which had
been reinforced by competitive grading in which they seemed always
to do poorly by comparison with their classmates. In order to implement
the strategy of descriptive, non-competitive assessment, the teachers
in the class established a system in which a class meeting determined
learning tasks for the whole class, and divided responsibilities for the
task among the class group. For each task, clear and explicit
requirements were agreed, and students could determine individually,
collectively and with their teachers whether requirements were met
when the tasks were completed. By gathering data on classroom