The assessment process
Click here to apply to NACE using the online or downloadable-and-post forms.

Please note that an assessment date will usually be set approximately 10-12 weeks after the receipt of your application.

An Assessor trained by NACE will undertake the assessment of your school's provision for able, gifted and talented pupils. The assessment process occurs in two stages, scrutiny of the portfolio and an assessment day at your school.

Costs: click here to see asssessment charges page
Please note: If you submit for assessment and the assessor, at stage one of the process, determines that you do not yet meet the criteria we will invoice your school for the cost of auditing your portfolio.

Stage 1: scrutiny of the portfolio
Your assessor will contact you and agree a provisional date for assessment. You will be asked to submit your portfolio of evidence to them, approximately 4 weeks before the assessment day. You will be asked to send your Challenge Award Framework File, with evidence for each of the 10 Elements, your School Development Plan and Prospectus.

Once the assessor has scrutinised your portfolio and judged that the evidence meets the criteria they will confirm the assessment date and agree a timetable for the day.

If you do not meet the criteria the Assessor will inform you, you will receive a short telephone debrief and then a written summary of your school's strengths and areas for development.

Stage 2: the assessment day
The purpose of the assessment day is to test out your self evaluation judgements seen in the portfolio. Exact timings for the day will be agreed with your assessor. However the components of the day and the order in which they occur are set. Please see Checklist question number 6 for details.

You will be asked to provide a lesson timetable for the day, which will also highlight lessons where the assessors might see particular 'challenge'. However the assessors will observe a variety of lessons at random. Assessors use the 'What is Good Teaching?' matrix (Supporting Document 1) as a basis for lesson observations.

At the end of the day the assessor will inform the Headteacher and members of the senior leadership team whether the school has gained the award and provide feedback of the schools strengths and areas for development. A written summary will be sent within 10 working days.