A NEW qualitative assessment system for primary school pupils is to be rolled out across the city following the completion of trials involving first and second-graders, authorities said yesterday.

The announcement was made despite the fact that a poll conducted by the same authorities in January — four months after the trials began — found that most of the schools taking part had actually failed to implement the new methods.

In theory, the scheme does away with the traditional points-based marking system and instead awards youngsters one of four grades: excellent, good, pass or improvement needed.