This empirical yet practical book highlights the fundamental connections between assessment, teaching and learning, and offers suggestions for maximising assessment in schools. Teachers often spend a considerable amount of their time monitoring and assessing their pupils' performance. But what are we assessing for, and can assessment practices be changed to make them more useful to teachers and learners? Assessment activities in schools are frequently criticised by government inspectors - often being reported as the least successful aspect of schools' work. Drawing on empirical research, Making Assessment Matter focuses on the purpose of assessment, and suggests strategies for managing assessment in a more effective way. The author considers the role of assessment in promoting learning, rather than simply measuring it, provides tips on setting and attaining assessment targets, and brings together considerations of 'high stakes' assessment at the national level with day-to-day assessment practice in the classroom. This timely and informative book will be essential reading for anyone involved with, or interested in, the role of assessment within schools, including teachers, trainee teachers and managers.