Episode 221: Writing First, Assessment Second – A Conversation with Chris Youles

This week on Thinking Deeply about Primary Education, I’m joined by Chris Youles for a timely conversation about writing assessment—why it often feels so difficult, how we’ve arrived at this point, and what we can do to realign assessment with the true purpose of teaching writing.

We explore:

Why assessing writing has become disconnected from high-quality teaching.
The unintended consequences of planning lessons around assessment strands.
Whether great writing instruction makes formal assessment simpler—and what that looks like in practice.
How schools can rebuild trust in teacher judgement and let go of overly complicated systems.

If you’ve ever found yourself frustrated by writing assessment or unsure how to make it more meaningful, this episode is packed with clarity, insight, and practical advice.

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Peter Brandt