The third global trend has been consequential accountability systems for schools.
Success or failure of schools and their teachers is often determined by standardised tests
and external evaluations that only devote attention to limited aspects of schooling, such as
student achievement in mathematical and reading literacy. Again in Finnish primary and
lower secondary school another direction has been chosen: trust through internal teacher
conducted assessment which is also connected to the improvement of teaching and
learning. Moreover, the needs of individual students in the classroom and their learning are
considered to be essential in the process, i.e. assessment for learning initiated by Black and
Wiliam (2003). A culture of trust within the education system values teachers’ and
headmasters’ professionalism in judging what is best for students and in reporting on the
progress of their learning. However, in Finnish upper secondary (high) school there is a
final examination, called matricular examination. Although, there is a long tradition for
oganising this test and positive feelings to the test among parents and students, it certainly
affect to the teaching and learning and emphasising of aims in upper secondary school.?