Course outline
Learn at a time that suits you, with a practical, hands-on curriculum
Research shows that effective assessment and feedback are some of the most powerful tools that teachers have. Learn how to embed low-stakes assessment for learning that really works, carry out meaningful summative assessment that helps you improve pupil outcomes, and master the core principles of purposeful and manageable feedback.
You’ll learn through 4 video classes, released at 3-week intervals. Each class is a recording from Michael’s highly successful live online course in spring 2024, adapted for you to watch on-demand. With video classes that fit around your schedule, real-world practical tasks and built-in time for structured reflection, this is a meaningful and convenient way to train.
Class 1
Released Monday 29 April
The purpose and principles of effective assessment
You’ll learn about:
- The role assessment plays in teaching and learning
- How to use informal assessment at the start of lessons, to embed retrieval exercises and spaced practice
- How to use informal assessment during lessons, to support responsive teaching and create opportunities for pupil self-regulation
Estimated watch time: max. 90 minutes, including reflection
Gap task: max. 45 minutes, designed to put your learning into practice in your role before the next class. Your trainer, Michael, will share details of the task with you at the end of this class
Class 2
Released Monday 20 May
Effective assessment in practice
You’ll learn how to:
- Design assessments and structure them over the academic year
- Use assessments to check knowledge recall and application
- Use your insights from assessments to refine and revise your curriculum
Estimated watch time: max. 90 minutes, including reflection
Gap task: max. 45 minutes, designed to put your learning into practice in your role before the next class. Your trainer, Michael, will share details of the task with you at the end of this class
Class 3
Released Monday 10 June
The foundations of effective feedback
You’ll learn:
- Why feedback is important, and what effective feedback looks like
- How to do less marking, and more feedback (without adding to workload)
- How to prepare pupils to receive and act on feedback
- A variety of tried-and-tested feedback strategies, and how to apply them in your classroom
Estimated watch time: max. 90 minutes, including reflection
Gap task: max. 45 minutes, designed to put your learning into practice in your role before the next class. Your trainer, Michael, will share details of the task with you at the end of this class
Class 4
Released Monday 1 July
Implementing effective feedback
You’ll:
- Hear examples and case studies of how schools deliver high-quality feedback to pupils
- Consider different feedback approaches, and how they could work in your school
Estimated watch time: max. 90 minutes, including reflection
No gap task to complete in follow-up. Just look out for your course completion certificate in your inbox, as long as you've watched all 4 classes by midnight
on 19 July!
Your expert course trainer
Michael Chiles is vice-principal at Co-op Academy Belle Vue.
Michael is an experienced school leader and principal examiner. He has delivered training nationally and internationally to support teachers in their approaches to implementing effective assessment and feedback practices. He is also the author/co-author of two #1 bestselling books about assessment and feedback. You can find him on X, formerly known as Twitter, at @m_chiles.
Michael has designed our course curriculum. He leads all the video classes and sets all the gap tasks.
Who can take this course?
This course is designed for secondary teachers of all experience levels, and senior or middle leaders looking to embed effective assessment and feedback at department or whole-school level.
This course is exclusively available to The Key's Whole School members. If you're not yet a Whole School member,
find out more here.
More reasons to love this course
Active learning, not passive instruction
You'll learn by doing, with practical tasks to weave into your day-to-day work. And your video classes won't be lectures. You’ll hear and see all the questions asked by the live audience at the time of recording, as well as Michael’s responses. You’ll pause for structured reflection, and where appropriate you’ll also hear Michael’s feedback on the small-group activities set during the live classes.
Develop your own menu of practical strategies that work
Apply what you learn straight away, with practical strategies drawn from expert advice and excellent practice. Adopt the best of what works, for immediate change and lasting impact on assessment and feedback in your classroom.
Learn with a cohort of secondary peers
Learning virtually doesn't mean learning solo. Signing up to this on-demand course also grants you access to a private Facebook group, where you can network with others taking the course and even team up to complete your practical tasks.
Earn a certificate of achievement
Watch all your video classes by midnight on 19 July and get a certificate of achievement from The Key for your learning record.
What previous attendees of our courses have said
"I've been a teacher for 8/9 years and this course felt very empowering"
"Good tips and strategies
that I can now use
in my own role"
"The tasks were very practical and a brilliant way to secure that knowledge"
Frequently asked questions
This is an online, on-demand course. All 4 classes are video recordings from our successful live course, run in spring 2024. A new video class will be available every 3 weeks, on the dates stated above, for you to watch online at a time that suits you. You’ll have practical tasks to complete independently between classes, and 24/7 access to your own online course community forum.
Deeply practical tasks. They’ll help you put learning into practice immediately and get ahead on work you need to complete in your day-to-day role. You might work with colleagues on a task, and get supportive feedback.
Yes! This course was built with full-time school leaders and teachers in mind. We've converted this from a live course to a series of on-demand videos that give you maximum flexibility in when you learn. Video classes will last no more than 90 minutes and will be released every 3 weeks. You have until midnight on 19 July to watch all 4. Outside of that, expect practical tasks to complete at any point that suits you ahead of the next class, and an on-tap peer community to engage with as you like. All your practical tasks will directly relate to your day job — they’ll never take you more than an hour.
Yes! You’ll get a certificate on completion of the course. You must watch all 4 classes by midnight on 19 July to qualify.
These courses are included in The Key's Whole School membership. So, if your school is a Whole School member, you can take this course at no extra cost to your school. If you're not yet a Whole School member, find out more here.
Yes!
No! There's no limit to the number of participants per school, and you may find it valuable to work through the course with a colleague.
Just email any questions to cpd@thekeysupport.com. We’ll get back to you within 2 working days.