Children’s experiences of curriculum and assessment in primary school

The report, Curriculum and Assessment in Children’s School Lives: Experiences from Primary Schools in Ireland 2019–2023, is the 6^th in the series from the Children’s School Lives longitudinal study. This ground-breaking study draws on the experience of almost 4,000 children across 189 primary schools, their teachers, school leaders and parents.

In keeping with previous publications in the series, this report prioritises the lived experiences of children. In doing so, we not only learn how they experience curriculum and assessment; we also learn how they interpret and internalise these experiences and how this evolves as children progress through school. The report provides insights into children’s experiences with homework and extra-curriculum activities; as well as looking at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on curriculum and assessment practices in schools.

Interesting findings that can be found within the report include:

• How children’s perceptions of accomplishment and ‘smartness’ in different subjects shape their experiences
• The experience of repetition and curriculum overload as children progress through school
• Assessment strategies applied and experienced by children, and children’s experiences of text anxiety, as they move up through primary school
• The importance of trust, communication and relationships between families and schools to support children’s progress in primary school. 

To read this report and previous reports or to find more information on the Children’s School Lives study, visit https://cslstudy.ie/