Should we benchmark learners in Stage 1 when they start? If we don’t, how will we evidence their skill development and the value of Global Perspectives?

It is important that class teachers can show that learners have made progress in their learning during their school year. However, when the focus is on skills development, the evidence for progress will not be marks on a written test. Regular summary of a learner’s skills as a grade or number is not the most useful way to demonstrate skill development.

Instead, learners demonstrate their skills developments in a range of ways. For example, a learner may communicate more confidently, listening and taking turns to speak and reflect on what others say. Or they may demonstrate their evaluation skills in another subject such as science. Parents might comment that learners are asking them thoughtful questions at home about some of the topics that the Challenges cover. These are the kind of ways schools have told us that they see the programme supporting and developing learners.

These are skills that we all learn and practise throughout our lives. For example, no-one has ever ‘finished’ learning to communicate.