The focus of this article is recent work by the Assessment Reform Group (ARG) on the role of teachers' judgements in the summative use of assessment. A brief overview of the early work of the ARG is followed by discussion of the desirable properties of assessment for summative uses. The work of the ARG's Assessment Systems for the Future project…

Approaches children's learning in learning science based on skilled observation by professional teachers, rather than on tests devised by outside agencies. (Editor/RK)

The author argues that selecting content for primary science should be taken seriously, suggests criteria for selecting content, and discusses ways of setting up and using content guidelines. (KC)