A Little Guide for Teachers: Efficient Marking by Claire Gadsby sets out labour-saving strategies for giving feedback that moves learning forward and, the publisher says, motivates pupils to want to improve.
Part of the Little Guide for Teachers series, it is short enough to read in an afternoon, with illustrations and activities to write into.
What do we think?
"A Little Guide for Teachers: Efficient Marking" is an excellent resource for anyone seeking to improve their marking practices and reduce workload without sacrificing quality. It is well-written and practical, with strategies for using marking and feedback in the classroom.
What the chapters cover
The publisher lists an introduction on "The Problem with Marking" and six chapters:
- Show me, don't just tell me: the role of success criteria
- What's the point? Marking that generates meaningful data
- What happens if we take away the writing?
- Do you really need to take it home?
- Whose job is it anyway?
- Where's the joy? Increasing pupils' emotional engagement with feedback
Who it is for
Classroom teachers who want to cut the time spent on written marking, and leaders reviewing a marking or feedback policy who want a short shared text for a staff meeting or department discussion. At 96 pages it is a starting point, not a full assessment policy.
About the book
- Author: Claire Gadsby.
- Publisher: SAGE (UK), A Little Guide for Teachers series. Published September 2020, 96 pages.
- ISBN: paperback 9781529730456; ebook 9781529737837.
Source: SAGE publisher page, checked 13 October 2026.