Success Criteria

Why Are Learning Objectives and

Success Criteria Important?
If learners are to take more responsibility for their own learning,
then they need to know what they are going to learn, how they will
recognise when they have succeeded and why they should learn it in
the first place.
- (An Intro to AfL, Learning Unlimited, 2004)

Learning
Objectives Success Criteria
How to recognise success
What and Why
Why Are Success Criteria Important?

Improve understanding
Empower pupils
Encourage independent learning
Enable accurate feedback
What Are Success Criteria?

success criteria summarise the key steps or

ingredients the student needs in order to fulfil the
learning intention the main things to do, include or
focus on.

- Shirley Clarke
Effective Success Criteria

are linked to the learning objective;

are specific to an activity;
are discussed and agreed with pupils prior to
undertaking the activity;
provide a scaffold and focus for pupils while engaged in
the activity; and
are used as the basis for feedback and peer-/self-
assessment.
Effective Success Criteria
Learning Objective: To demonstrate an understanding of
the ways in which a narrative can be developed.
Activity: Write a ghost story.
I will be successful if: I will be successful if:

people enjoy reading my story; and
it frightens them.
set the scene in the opening
paragraph;
build up tension/suspense;
use spooky adjectives and powerful
verbs; and
end with a cliffhanger.
Additional Examples
To understand the ways in
which to present an
argument.
Remember to
include opening and closing
statements
give reasons for and against
use evidence to support
use language to persuade
To understand how to
calculate the passing of
time in 5-minute intervals.
Remember to
count from the minute hand
stop where the minute hand
finishes
count in fives
go clockwise
Recapping the Benefits

How does the use of Learning Objectives and Success

Criteria benefit pupils?
Benefits for Pupils (Findings from Teacher Researchers)

Children are more focused

and interested, creating a We have given children
positive learning culture. the vocabulary to
Their self-esteem is discuss their own work.
improving also.

Pupils are beginning

Success can now to talk more about
how they are learning
be achieved by rather than what they
all, even the are learning.
weakest
children!
Benefits for Teachers (Findings from Teacher Researchers)

Sharing learning intentions

Im more sensitive to
and success criteria at the
individuals
beginning of the lessons has
needs/achievements.
resulted in teacher and
pupils working more in
partnership towards a
common goal.
Relationships
between teacher
and pupils are
warmer and more My planning is more
positive. effective/focused/
thoughtful.
Summary
To take more responsibility for their own learning,
pupils need to know:
what they are going to learn;
how they will recognise when they have succeeded;
and
why they should learn it in the first place.
Summary cont.
Using Learning Objectives and Success Criteria:
creates more self-motivated pupils;
empowers pupils to become independent learners;
improves understanding; and
can help focus feedback.

This isnt all new

but we need to be more systematic about using these approaches in
our classrooms.