Examination Systems

Opening Keynote: Maintaining Standards and Confidence

• The potential for on-demand and e-Assessment
  
• The regulatory principles behind e-Assessment
  
• Implementing the new A-Level specification
  
• Balancing innovation with the need to maintain quality
  
• The Qualifications and Credit Framework
  
• Maintaining comparability of standards over time
  
• Data security in e-Assessment
  
• Ensuring public confidence in the examination system

Isabel Nisbet, Chief Executive, Ofqual (CONFIRMED)

Assessment at the Heart of Learning

• What are the essential purposes of testing?
  
• Are children and young people tested too often?
  
• Does the examination system adequately prepare students for further education and employment?
  
• What role should ICT play in the assessment process?
  
• Levels of public confidence in the examination system
  
• Assessment for Learning - does testing drive up standards?
  
• Promoting effective in-class assessment
  
• Value for money and the cost of assessment
  

Warwick Mansell, Freelance Education Journalist (CONFIRMED)

Case Study: Enhancing Learning Through Innovative IT

• Innovative use of technology in target setting and assessment
• Using IT to deliver Assessment for Learning
• Engaging parents and pupils in e-Assessment
• Preparing pupils for assessment by stage not age
• Working in partnership with private providers to develop personalised systems
  

Andrew Penman, Headteacher, Westfield Arts College (CONFIRMED)

Improving the Quality of Assessment

• Promoting the professional development of examination officers
  
• The role of national examinations in reforming learning
  
• The practical challenges of administrating government examination policy
  
• The role of assessment in delivering Diplomas
  
• Can e-Assessment accurately reflect students ability
  
• The ongoing reliability of e-Assessment
  
• Security concerns over e-Assessment
  

David Wright, Chief Executive Officer, Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors(CONFIRMED)

Reforming the Examination System

• The future for Key Stage and A-Level examinations
  
• The role of externally marked tests in the school accountability system
  
• The role of Parliament, schools and universities in setting examination policy
  
• Utilising technology to drive forward examination standards
  
• Efficiency savings in the examination system
  
• Ensuring schools in the state and private sector have access to the same examination systems
  
• Maintaining public confidence in exams

Professor Alan Smithers, Director, Centre for Education and Employment Research,The University of Buckingham (CONFIRMED)

The Effective Use of ICT in the Examination Process

• Supporting innovation in assessment
  
• Ensuring accessibility to e-Assessment - SEN and disadvantaged groups
  
• The role of the private sector in developing e-Assessment
  
• Using technology to support Assessment for Learning
  
• Ensuring technology meets the needs of teachers and learners
  
• Harnessing technology to maximize value for money in the examination system

Richard Kimbell, Professor of Technology Education and Director, Technology Education Research Unit, Goldsmiths, University of London (CONFIRMED)

Developments in e-Assessment

• How are examination bodies developing assessment practices?
  
• Ensuring the examination system accurately measures candidates ability
  
• Providing clear and accessible information for teachers, students and parents
  
• Modernising assessment through technology
  
• The potential for on-demand assessment
  
• The practical challenges for implementing e-Assessment
  
• Efficiency and standardization

Bob Penrose, Principal Manager, AQA (CONFIRMED)

The Changing Approach to Teacher Assessment

• Balancing national testing with teacher assessment
• Ensuring consistency in teacher assessment
  
• Is there an over-emphasis on testing in schools?
  
• Developments in Key Stage and A-Level examinations
  
• The role of ICT in the learning and assessment process
  
• Training staff to deliver e-Assessment
  
• How are education providers developing teaching methods to accommodate new examination policies?
  
• Collaboration between teachers at different Key Stages
  

Sue Kirkham, Education Policy Specialist, Association of School & College Leaders (CONFIRMED)

Assessment and Skills - Meeting the Needs of Employers

• Does the examination system equip learners with the skills to succeed in the workplace?
  
• Should employers have a greater say in examination policy?
  
• How useful are examination marks in the recruitment process?
  
• Do employers have confidence in the reliability of examinations
  
• Businesses working in partnership with schools to ensure learners have work-based skills
  
• Government examination reforms and driving up standards

Colin Willman, Education and Skills Chairman and National Vice Chairman, Federation of Small Businesses (CONFIRMED)

Closing Keynote: Can our Assessment System be Fit for Purpose?

• Meeting the future needs of all students and of society - does our current system meet this purpose?
• Teaching for learning or teaching to the test?
• The assessment responsibility of teachers – must it play a part in the system? Can it do so?
• Who is responsible for supporting the development of teachers’ summative assessment skills? What is needed to secure public confidence in teachers’ assessment judgments?
• Accountability - for what, and of whom?

Professor Paul Black, Emeritus Professor of Science Education and Member, Assessment for Learning Group, King's College London (CONFIRMED)