Assessment is an integral part of the curriculum; it is difficult to explore curriculum
issues, teaching approaches and classroom practice without also considering the
assessment of children’s learning. In Council’s reviews (NCCA, 2005; 2008a), teachers
who referred to curriculum overload particularly highlighted lack of time and difficulties
in assessing individual pupils’ progress (NCCA, 2008a). Findings indicated that
teachers were unsure about how to measure the standards children were attaining and
were unclear on the criteria to be used and the benchmarks to be aspired to. Some
teachers said they lacked expertise in devising alternative assessment measures, had
difficulties assessing oral language, practical investigations and group work. The
findings also highlighted the complex nature of classroom assessment in the affective
domain and in a subject like SPHE (NCCA, 2008a).