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Educational Assessment Group at IOE (EAG@IOE)

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Why were external national examinations decided upon for 16 year olds in England and Wales?

By Mary Richardson, on 21 January 2024

Wednesday, January 17th 2024 – watch the recording HERE

This talk focused on the policy thinking that went in to the creation of the national assessment system in England and Wales, going back to the first government sponsored examination system for 16-year-olds (the School Certificate) and moving on to its replacement by O levels in 1951. Why was it that the system chosen was for exams to be externally provided, a pattern which has survived for over 100 years?  The talk presented historical examples of policy making and will note that policy is usually a creation out of complex situations. It is frequently formed from many-layered contexts that are dynamic and inevitably changing. This produces tensions that the policy makers must be aware of and they must allow for decisions that enable growth and change, particularly in their early years of implementation.

Dr Andrew Watts began his career as a secondary teacher of English. Having taught in England for thirteen years he moved to a state school in Singapore. After four years he was invited to join a team of inspectors in the Ministry of Education there. On returning to England in 1990 he took a post with the Cambridge examination board, at that time called Cambridge Assessment. Having retired early he took up a number of international consultancies and then worked for a PhD at Cambridge University. He is still involved with current thinking on educational assessment, particularly through an MA course in Cambridge and involvement in AEA-Europe.

Seminar: Holistic Assessment

By Mary Richardson, on 14 December 2023

Irenka Suto and Tim Oates joined us in November 2023 to present some current ideas and views of Holistic Assessment. You can WATCH HERE.

 

 

NB The discussions that follow our seminar presentations are not recorded.

Seminar: Should students be expected to master the vocational curriculum?

By Mary Richardson, on 31 August 2023

Should students be expected to master the vocational curriculum? WATCH HERE

20th September 2023 (online) Please note, the discussion session was not recorded.

Professor Paul Newton (Ofqual) is our speaker in September – read more about Paul HERE

This event is guided by UCL’s general privacy notice: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/legal-services/privacy/general-privacy-notice

Seminar: Assessment past, present and future

By Mary Richardson, on 31 August 2023

silhouette and people in front of the US flag

Assessment past, present and future: WATCH HERE

The panel discussion that launched the EAG@IOE – with Christine Harrison, Gordon Stobart and Tina Isaacs.

Seminar: Critical Race Theory: Just an American row or important to us?

By Mary Richardson, on 31 August 2023

Critical Race Theory: Just an American row or important to us? WATCH HERE

This webinar considered what is meant by “Critical Race Theory” and its place in public and policy discourse in the USA and elsewhere. The  theoretical challenges of Critical Theory and Critical Race Theory; and its relevance for education, specifically educational assessment, were discussed.

Seminar: What makes assessment fair?

By Mary Richardson, on 31 August 2023

 

What makes assessment fair? WATCH HERE

In January 2022, we welcomed Isabel Nisbet and Stuart Shaw who explored what fairness means and challenges to fair assessment (including the challenges from Covid). The seminar comprised three discussions: fair assessment in vocational contexts; fair selection for university; and, whether it is fair to make the future like the past.

Seminar: Assessment Research – a student’s view

By Mary Richardson, on 31 August 2023

three students sit in a seminar discussion listening to a speaker

In November 2021, students took centre stage and presented their research on assessment.  You can hear from Carl (MA Assessment), Kanayo (EdD in Assessment) and Tamara (PhD in Assessment) all talk about their research interests, experiences and what they love about assessment.

About us

By Mary Richardson, on 25 June 2021

The EAG@IOE was founded in 2021. The group sits within the department of Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment within the IOE.

The EAG@IOE has three key, mutually dependent aims:

  1. to conduct and promote research into educational assessment relating to subjects, curriculum and pedagogy and across all phases of education;
  2. to seek external engagement and work with professional assessment organisations and with assessment experts to research, sustain, and develop good practice in assessment in education; and
  3. to engage UCL IOE students (UG/PGT/Res) with an interest in educational assessment in teaching, learning, research and employment opportunities.

We officially launched the EAG@IOE on the 23rd June 2021 via a Zoom Seminar.  An audience of 86 joined us from the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong, Oman and China – so great to have an international interest!

The EAG is directed by Dr Mary Richardson and Dr Catarina Correia – please contact us if you would like to join the group, or if you are interested in presenting assessment-related work.

JOIN US – click here to join the mailing list.