Assessment experts give evidence to Lords inquiry into secondary education system
Wednesday 29 March
The House of Lords Education for 11 - 16 Year Olds Committee will continue its inquiry into the challenges and opportunities faced by the secondary education system in England by hearing from assessment experts.
Giving evidence will be:
- Dr Michelle Meadows, Associate Professor of Educational Assessment, Department for Education, University of Oxford
- Sharon Hague, Senior Vice President, Pearson School Qualifications
- Tim Oates CBE, Group Director of Assessment Research and Development, Cambridge University Press and Assessment
- Gavin Busuttil-Reynaud, Director of Operations, AlphaPlus
Questions the committee are likely to ask include:
- Are GCSEs fit for purpose, particularly when pupils must now stay in education or training until age 18?
- What is your view of the volume of assessments currently sat by pupils at age 16, which can reach around 30 hours of examinations?
- Do other assessment methods, such as coursework, represent a valid alternative to written exams?
- What are the opportunities and risks associated with the ‘digitisation’ of assessments?
- How could innovative technologies such as ‘adaptive’ testing or AI add value to our 11-16 system and are there associated risks?
- Which other countries have made progress with switching to online testing and exams, and how was this achieved?
The Committee’s call for evidence for the inquiry is open until Sunday 30 April. Details about how to submit evidence are available on the Committee’s website.
The session can be followed live on Parliament TV or in person in Committee Room 2, Palace of Westminster on Thursday 30 March from 11.15am.