6 1995 EVALUATIONS OF STATUTORY ASSESSMENT IN ENGLAND AT KEY STAGE-2 - METHODS AND FINDINGS

The national evaluation of Key Stage 2 assessment in England and Wales was undertaken in 1995 and 1996 by the University of Bath, together w ith the University of Aberystwyth, for the School Curriculum and Asses sment Authority and the Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales. During the same time span, other investigations of varying scope and size were conducted on issues associated with the statutory testing of Ii-year-old children and its impact on schools. The similarities and differences in methodologies and the findings of six such projects, ca rried out by agencies differing in size and purpose, are explored, rev ealing a great similarity of results despite a diversity of methods. T hese findings are reviewed in relation to other contemporary research, and some suggestions relating to future research methods are made. Th e article is based upon a paper given at the British Educational Resea rch Association Conference at Lancaster in September 1996, as part of a symposium on research into national assessment across the key stages .