Abstract
This presentation explores using storytelling as an authentic assessment tool for professional standards in Initial Teacher Education (ITE). It positions narrative as a way for trainee teachers to make sense of experience, develop identity, and build crucial skills such as empathy, critical thinking, and communication, bridging theory and practice through shared narratives. It moves beyond traditional assessments to genuinely capture a trainee's perspective and professional growth, using storytelling as a pedagogical tool for deep, meaningful learning.