Teachers should mark pupil work submitted for assessment – both class work and prep – in such a way that it affirms correct work and suggests means for further improvement. Teachers should also indicate on work not submitted for assessment that it has been seen.

Consistency of marking is crucial in the maintenance of high standards. Work falling below a previously set standard should be returned as unacceptable and be repeated. When work is returned a pupil needs, and has a right to expect, to know why work has been marked as below standard. The method of feedback – verbal or written, public or private – is left to professional judgement but due care needs be taken to ensure that feedback does not demotivate a pupil, but strengthens their resolve to improve and maintain a high standard of work. Where possible feedback should end on a positive note.

We believe that the aims of marking pupil work are as follows:

1. To motivate and encourage by means of regular written and verbal feedback.
2. To identify and highlight at the earliest instance errors in the understanding of concepts and subject knowledge.
3. To help identify and ascertain progress and achievement.

The following guidelines make it easier to achieve the aims of our marking policy and should be read in conjunction with the departmental handbooks for subject specific guidelines and key stage variations.

We believe that all teachers should be English teachers, and not ignore or fail to indicate errors in punctuation and grammar. Professional judgement across the key stages should determine how many misspellings a pupil is asked to correct, the emphasis being not to demotivate a pupil who has made many mistakes, but to promote an awareness of the importance of accurate spelling. Misspellings should be indicated and the correct spelling written in the margin.

All pupils should follow the prescribed style for setting out work as detailed in the College Marking Guidelines. Work done on file paper must have the pupil’s name on each sheet. There may be some specific subject, or age phase variation and, where relevant, this can be found in the subject or age phase handbook.

Work submitted for assessment should be marked and returned within one week of completion. Written comments on pupil work should be explanatory, with emphasis on ensuring progression, but it is the college policy that art work must have any mark or formative assessment written either on a separate sheet or the reverse side of the work.

All marking must be in accordance with task assessment criteria and pupils should be made aware of such criteria before attempting a task, and with the understanding that such criteria will vary according to the nature of the task set. Where pupil centred or whole class feedback is required then teachers should make time for this in lesson.
Work that is below or above the expected standard should be acknowledged in line with the College Marking Guidelines.

Revised September 2009
To be reviewed September 2010

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