Samantha Booth | Schools Week

Ex-Ofqual chair: ‘Gross miscalculation’ caused 2020 exams fiasco

Last year’s exams fiasco resulted from a “gross miscalculation about what was a reasonable and acceptable way to treat people”, Ofqual’s former chair has said, as he admitted the regulator knew “that in many cases people would be given the wrong grade”. Of course we knew that it wouldn’t be wholly accurate and we knew […]

What teachers said in response to Pearson’s survey on the future of exams

Eight of out ten teachers believe high stakes exams should be taken throughout the year, and most want more autonomy over testing, an exam board survey has revealed. Pearson has published initial findings from its review into the future of qualifications and assessment in the UK. The company surveyed 5,000 people, including students, parents and […]

2021 grade appeals have ‘very high’ threshold to meet, says Ofqual chief

Appeals to exam boards over grades issued this summer will have a “very high” threshold to meet, and there will be no scope for “speculative appeals”, Ofqual’s chief regulator has said. This year, students can request that their school reviews their teacher assessment grade for procedural problems or administrative errors. If they are not satisfied, […]

Heads heap pressure on exam boards by demanding at least 75 per cent of fees back

Nearly two-thirds of headteachers think schools should get back at least 75 per cent of exam fees this summer, heaping more pressure on boards to give a sizeable rebate. But one exam board has already said that 75 per cent is unrealistic. A survey by heads’ union ASCL found 45 per cent of 457 headteachers […]

Exam boards to use one-seventh of usual examiner workforce this summer

Exam boards will save millions by using only one-seventh of the examiners they would usually need in a normal year, while teachers spend their spare time marking assessment papers for GCSEs and A-levels. It comes as 10,000 educators signed a National Education Union letter requesting £500 compensation for teachers involved in deciding grades this year. […]

Five key findings from Ofqual’s research on assistive technology in assessment

Some exam papers don’t work well with assistive technology, causing “frustration” for teachers students, Ofqual research has found. The exams regulator has published a new analysis paper looking to “better understand” the use of assistive technology (AT) for pupils with disabilities or impairments and ensure regulation “remains fit for purpose”. AT includes any device, software […]

A tenth of England’s schools and colleges named on Everyone’s Invited website

A tenth of all schools and colleges in England have been named in testimonies on the Everyone’s Invited website detailing rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment. The campaign, which urges young sexual abuse survivors to share their stories on its website, last night published a list of about 2,700 English education institutions mentioned alongside anonymous allegations […]

EPI: Recovery funding ‘little more’ than was spent on ‘Eat Out to Help Out’

Funding for education recovery in the next academic year amounts to “little more” than was spent on the month-long “Eat Out to Help Out” initiative, a think tank has warned. Education Policy Institute analysis found that funding for recovery schemes in the 2021-22 academic year amounts to around £984 million. In contrast, the government spent […]

Schools promised cash for staff to oversee ‘priority’ appeals in summer holidays

Funding will be made available for schools and colleges to bring in staff during the summer holiday period to deal with “priority” appeals. The Department for Education has confirmed that funding of £75 per “priority appeal” – those which are needed for a student to take up a university offer – will be made available. […]