Interactive Membership Brochure
The Institute of Educational Assessors (IEA) is a professional body dedicated to supporting the needs of those involved in educational assessment from teachers, trainers and lecturers supporting individual development in a centre of learning through to external examiners, markers, moderators and verifiers of qualifications and national tests.
The Institute has been welcomed across the assessment, and wider, educational communities.
Messages of Support:
Sir Mike Tomlinson
The Institute of Educational Assessors will be important first of all in giving proper public recognition for the many tens of thousands of teachers and others who give up an awful lot of their time to make our examination system work.
David Gee - Managing Director, National Assessment Agency (NAA)
The Institute of Educational Assessors will be a cornerstone of the modernisation programme to improve the quality of assessment, reduce
the burden in schools while sustaining and improving public confidence in educational standards.
Mike Cresswell - Director General, Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA)
I very much welcome the launch of the Institute of Educational Assessors. Assessment is a crucial part of teaching and learning and the Institute has the potential to be a much needed forum for improving the quality of educational assessment in all its forms.
Graham Soles - Headteacher, Brighouse High School, West Yorkshire and Company Member
As a serving headteacher with thirty-six years experience of teaching and leadership, I am pleased to be associated with the establishment of the Institute of Educational Assessors. This presents a real opportunity to build a system for assessment development that will be of the highest quality. In an increasingly complex and changing world it is important that the standards of our work are perceived to be consistent and transparent with a constant drive for improvement and excellence.
Contents
- A brief introduction to your Institute - The Institute of Educational Assessors
- How the Institute can assist you in your role as an Educational Assessor
- The benefits you can expect
- Overview of individual membership grades and joining instructions
- Membership Application Form
Our Mission
The Institute of Educational Assessors (IEA) aims to improve the quality of assessment for learners by improving the knowledge, skills and capability of those involved in educational assessment.
As an independent professional body, the Institute is committed to maintaining and improving the quality of assessment, by working with others to provide a programme of support and professional development, thereby maintaining and increasing public confidence in assessment standards.
A brief introduction to your Institute - The Institute of Educational Assessors
Those involved in assessment make a vital contribution to a learner's education. They bring independence and consistency to the assessment and testing system, giving credibility to a process that allows students, parents, teachers, higher education professionals and employers to have continued confidence in educational standards. In short, they make decisions and judgements that affect lives.
The Institute of Educational Assessors (IEA), which came into existence in 2006, is an independent not-for-profit membership organisation. In July 2007 we were granted a Royal Charter. We support our members in their professional development, in order to improve the quality of assessment, drive up standards and contribute to an increase in public confidence in the assessment system.
Our membership includes the whole spectrum of people involved in assessment, from individuals with an interest in or responsibility for assessment
in both primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, training centres and other educational organisations to senior examiners, moderators and markers.
"The central role of assessment in the teaching, training and learning process demands the best, reliable professional assessment in primary and secondary schools, colleges, universities, training centres and the workplace. Providing this is the main aim of the Institute."
"We need your interest, skills and experience to realise our ambitious agenda; you need the support of the Institute to raise the public profile of your role. I hope that you will consider joining us.""
- Kathleen Tattersall OBE, Chair of the Institute of Educational Assessors
How the Institute can assist you in your role as an Educational Assessor
Supporting your role
The Institute will support your professional development through access to good practice guidance, advice and insight into the latest developments in
assessment. Membership of the Institute gives access to a number of benefits including online discussion forums, an educational assessment-related research database as well as practical professional support (outlined on page 7).
Recognising your professionalism
Membership will confer a recognised and valued status for those involved in developing or delivering educational assessment in schools, colleges, universities, the workplace and training centres. Membership grades (outlined on page 10)
indicate your proven expertise in good assessment practice. The Institute will
provide you with continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities, which
will enable members to work towards Chartered Educational Assessor* status.
Promoting excellence
The Institute will work to disseminate good assessment practice by providing access to research, networking opportunities and, over time, training and qualifications. Through these means, the Institute will help members develop their performance and status as assessment professionals.
Representing your views
The Institute gives educational assessors an independent voice on issues affecting the profession.
The Institute aims to raise the status and profile of assessment professionals by representing members' views on assessment to government, the media and the general public.
The benefits you can expect
The Institute offers a wide range of benefits designed to help and support you as an Educational Assessor. Individual membership grades are:
- Student Member
- Affiliate Member
- Associate Member
- Member
- Fellow
All of the above grades (and associated criteria) are outlined on page 10 and a list of member benefits can be found below:
Supporting your role
A dedicated assessment-focused website (http://www.ioea.org.uk)
The Institute's website contains a vast amount of assessment-related information and resources that can be accessed 24 hours a day, 7 days
a week. The website includes the following sections:
- Membership information
This section provides you with all the information you need to join the Institute. It includes information on member benefits, membership
grades and fees. - Continuing Professional Development (CPD)
This section enables members to understand strengths as well as recognise and address development needs (see Recognising
Professionalism section on page 8 for more detailed information). - Training and qualifications information
This section contains information on training and qualifications offered by the Institute and/or partner organisations. - Knowledge centre
This section contains an archive of past issues of our termly magazine, Make the Grade, and our monthly e-newsletter, IEAMAIL, assessment related articles and speeches, and a full explanation of the English examination system. It also contains a wealth of information on how to set questions that are valid and fit for purpose, as well as an introduction to the use of technology in assessment. - Campaigns and activities
This section contains information on the latest IEA campaigns. These campaigns provide a voice for the assessment community and raise
the profile and relevance of effective educational assessment, as well as the contribution it makes to society. - News and events
This section contains a brief introduction to the IEA Professional Framework (see page 8) plus the latest assessment-related news and
events taking place all over the UK. - Member area
The complete IEA Professional Framework is located within this section of the website. It offers a unique opportunity for members to
analyse and explore assessment competencies and identify any skill gaps. This section also includes all of the Institute's online discussion
forums and information on how to access all member benefits.
The Institute's termly publication, 'Make the Grade'
Make the Grade aims to be one of the most informative assessment related publications in the UK. Each issue contains a
wealth of features and articles designed to help you develop and improve your assessment skills and knowledge. This publication will
ensure you are kept up-to-date with the latest developments within the world of assessment.
Monthly e-newsletter, IEAMail
The Institute's e-newsletter is sent to members on a monthly basis. It contains news and views from the Institute and the wider assessment community as well as information on assessment related training and CPD opportunities.
Membership Card and Certificate
All members receive a certificate of membership suitable for framing and a membership card.
Tax Services
Members can access online FAQs, a remote tax self-assessment service (provided by Tax Watchdog) and a tax refund service (provided by Personal Taxation Services Ltd).
IEA Research Database
The IEA Assessment Research Database, powered by EBSCO (a powerful online database normally available only to assessors working within large educational institutions), enables free and unlimited access to more than 3000 abstracted and indexed journals including the Journal of Assessment, Chronicle of Higher Education, Education Leadership, Journal of Education, Journal of Higher Education and Journal of Learning. The database is particularly useful for members wishing to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in assessment or require access to up-to-date
assessment research findings and reports. This service also includes functionality to build up links to a collection of material in a saved search
in order to pursue a particular issue.
Professional Indemnity Insurance
Most professions have dedicated professional indemnity insurance in case an individual claim arises. The Institute is pleased to be the first membership organisation to offer educational assessors this bespoke service. This product has been developed in response to the
needs of our members for support in carrying out their assessment activities. This service is provided by Endsleigh Insurances Ltd and is underwritten by Zurich. An annual fee also applies.
Vacancy Service
The IEA Vacancy Service, powered by TES jobs, is the UK's number one site for assessment-related jobs in education. With more jobs than any other UK website and new positions posted every Friday, it is the best way to look for your next move, in the UK
or overseas.
Discounted annual Times Education Supplement (TES) subscription
The IEA can now offer members an exclusive £17 off* the full price of an annual subscription when paying via quarterly Direct Debit payments.
Normal price - £45
IEA Member price - £28
*discount only applicable when paying via quarterly Direct Debit.
Further assessment-related member benefits
The number of IEA member resources, offers and discounts is increasing regularly, so please visit our website for the most up-to-date list of enefits.
Recognising Professionalism via CPD Opportunities
IEA Professional Framework
You can identify your own continuing professional development (CPD) pathway - based on the skills and abilities needed for good assessment
practice - and develop your learning in conjunction with tools and techniques. One online tool available to members (via the Member area on
the IEA website) is the IEA Professional Framework -
The full frameworks will allow you to drill into different levels and roles in assessment, providing concise descriptions of the activities associated
with each function in the process of assessment. It also lists the competencies and skills you would expect to see from someone working at that level.
It is useful for discovering strengths and for highlighting professional development needs. Currently the summative assessment version of
the framework is available online. However a formative assessment version will be available from November 07.
IEA Assessor Compendia
Once you have established your specific assessment-related developmental needs via the IEA Professional Framework you can access the IEA Assessor Compendia to gain specific information, advice and resources relating to the particular function that needs to be addressed.
The Compendia have proved popular with members wishing to improve their skills and capabilities and with senior management team members when carrying out annual reviews with members of staff.
Promoting Excellence
An independent voice
The IEA is an independent membership organisation representing the views of educational assessors to the government, media and general public. Future campaigns include:
- Monthly online polls on key assessment issues
- teacher-focused promotional campaigns
- Assessor case study programme
- Chartered Educational Assessor*
Further campaign inform ation can be found on our website.
The IEA is an independent membership organisation representing the views of educational assessors to the government, media and general public.
Future campaigns include:
- The skill of assessment
- The role of e-assessment
- Assessment standards
Further campaign information can be found on our website.
Future Qualifications
Working in conjunction with other specialist organisations, the IEA hopes to offer qualifications and professional development to both existing and prospective educational assessors in the near future.
Networking Opportunities
You will have the opportunity to meet other assessment professionals to exchange ideas and share experiences. Opportunities include regional events, the Institute's annual National Assessment Conference and online discussion forums located within the Member Area of the IEA website..
Chartered Educational Assessor Status
The IEA has recently been granted a Royal Charter, and will soon be formally known as the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors. Gaining the Charter means that you can apply to be accredited as a Chartered Educational Assessor. This new status will be available for experienced assessors to help them further develop their assessment skills to the highest possible standards. More details will be announced at a later date.
Representing your views
The Institute is developing a recognised position on assessment issues based on its aims and objectives, helping to inform opinion from an impartial and professional perspective. Membership will allow you to have a voice with stakeholders from the educational community and contribute directly to the formation of Institute policy
The initial issues we will be tackling are those concerned with e-assessment, the skills of assessment and assessment standards. Of course, if there are issues that members would like to progress, then the online forums area is the place to post your views, so that we can gain an insight into the issues that concern our members.
Overview of individual membership grades and joining instructions
The IEA has categorised the various assessment-focused stakeholder groups into a number of different membership grades. Before applying for membership it is suggested that you find out which grade best suits your role -
| Membership Grade | Criteria | Possible roles could include |
Evidence required |
| Affiliate Member | You are interested in assessment, working in an environment that has assessment at the heart of its activities. No formal qualifications or competencies in assessment are required. |
Governor, Parent. | None required. |
| Student Member | You are studying for an appropriate qualification at NQF level 6 or above. |
PGCE/BEd Student Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT). |
A letter or email from your college or school confirming your enrolment or employment. |
| Associate Member | You already possess an appropriate qualification at NQF level 6 or above and will have a minimum of 1 year's teaching. | Teaching assistant, Teacher, Assessment Coordinator, SENCO, Lecturer or Trainer, Assistant Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher, Head Teacher, Vice Principal or Principal. |
A copy of your qualification certificate and a professional reference from your Head Teacher or Principal. |
| Full Member | Member status will be available to eligible teaching professionals (who are responsible for checking the consistency and quality of assessments across an assessment team and have been doing so for at least 3 years) from December 2007. | Typical roles include Teacher, Assessment Coordinator, SENCO, Lecturer, Trainer, Department Head, Subject Leader, Assistant Head Teacher, Deputy Head Teacher, Head Teacher, Vice Principal, Local Authority Assessment Coordinator or Advisor, Assessment Improvement Officer (or equivalent). |
It is a pre-requisite that Associate Member status is gained before applying for Member status. |
| Fellow | Fellow status will be available to eligible teaching professionals (who have made a significant and demonstrable contribution to teaching and learning through assessment) from December 2007. |
It is a pre-requisite that Associate Member status is gained before applying for Fellow status. |
Once you have established the membership grade that
best suits your role, you can apply for IEA membership.
This can be done:
Online - Visit http://www.ioea.org.uk/join