Assessment of students' learning achievements in secondary education in the UK and Australia

Abstract

The improvement of national systems for the assessment of students’ learning outcomes is one of the leading trends in the globalisation of education today. The second half of the twentieth century and the beginning of the twenty-first century have been characterised by considerable attention to this issue. This has stimulated the development of the theory of educational assessment as a component of the theory of educational quality. Changes in the educational system of Ukraine, which began after the entry into force of the Law of Ukraine "On Education" and with the beginning of the implementation of the concept of the New Ukrainian School, stimulated the improvement of the national system of assessment of students' learning achievements in general secondary education and encouraged educational institutions to develop their own assessment systems. Formative assessment plays a leading role in these systems. At the same time, these processes are largely based on the achievements of the national systems of the world's leading countries, which makes it important to study their experiences. This paper focuses on the systems for assessing student learning in general secondary education in the UK and Australia, countries that have created a strong scientific and theoretical basis for this process and developed effective management mechanisms for its implementation. Studying the experience of these countries is useful for the pedagogical community of Ukraine, as it can help improve the quality of educational services for consumers. Special attention is paid to formative assessment tools, which make it possible to track the individual progress of each student and motivate them to further achievements. The use of the materials presented in this paper will contribute to the professional development of teachers and educational managers in the field of pedagogical assessment as a prerequisite for improving the quality of educational services for the population of Ukraine.