September 2008
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| CIEAMail, Issue 26 | September 2008 |
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Welcome Welcome to CIEAMAIL, the topical monthly members e-newsletter, carrying news and views from the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors (CIEA). Content:
Institute News - New - Board of Trustee Nominations 2008 - Call for action!
Institute News - New - Board of Trustee Nominations 2008 - Call for action! Nominations are now invited for election to The Board of Trustees of The CIEA to take office from the close of the Institute's Annual General Meeting (AGM) to be held in April 2009. Three Trustees are currently being sought to take up their seats for a three year term during the current round of elections. Board members of the CIEA are elected on a rotational basis. Each year one third of the Board members stand down and there are elections for these places. The Board members who stand down can be re-elected provided they have not reached the maximum term of office. Nominations are now invited from Fellows, Full Members and Associate Members (the Voting Members) of the CIEA to fill vacancies from the UK. If nominations exceed the number of vacancies, a ballot of all Voting Members will be carried so that the results can be announced at the AGM of the CIEA to be held in April 2009.
"But with a senior assessment specialist member of staff in every school - as outlined in the DCSF's Assessment for Learning Strategy - that problem will be addressed and the initiative has taken a step nearer today with the publication of the CIEA's report on a pilot exercise conducted between February 2007 and June 2008 - and the introduction of the world's first MA in assessment starting this month, as influenced directly by the CIEA. "The DCSF is working in partnership with the CIEA and others, to implement the department's Assessment for Learning Strategy, Wright continues, "and the CIEA's Chartered Educational Assessors (CEAs) will provide a high quality resource to support these initiatives in assessing pupils' progress generally to positively influence their learning potential, and the internal assessment requirements of the new Diploma and other qualifications. "The chartered institute is the leading body in professionalising assessment practitioners and has strategically brought together leading UK universities to offer the world's first master's degree in assessment. "Bath Spa will be the first university to offer the new MA from September this year and Swansea, Leeds, Warwick, Durham and the Institute of Education have expressed an active interest in the concept," he said.
Read more...
Feature: Isabel Nisbet of Ofqual is interviewed
Feature: Peter Tymms from Durham
To read past editions of the magazine online please follow the link below. If you would like to order further copies of the previous editions of Make the Grade then please email us at info@ciea.org.uk stating your name, edition, quantity and membership number.
Following the near collapse of the National Curriculum Tests this summer, the CIEA, along with other bodies, was asked to comment on the process. The CIEA was not party to some of the interactions neither between ETS and NAA nor between ETS and QCA. Where this was the case, the CIEA has not been able to comment on specific issues. However, the views of CIEA accredited markers were sought and a summary of their views can be presented. The CIEA would like to thank all members who contributed to the inquiry.
On 6 June 2007, the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, Alan Johnson, announced that nearly 500 schools across England had been chosen to run a major two-year pilot from September 2007. The pilot is trialling new ways to assess, report and stimulate progress in schools, so that no child stalls or gets stuck at any stage. As part of the Making Good Progress pilot, schools in 10 local authorities are trialling an offer of one to one tuition for pupils falling behind in English or mathematics at Key Stage 2 or 3. The ten hours of tuition sessions are delivered during out of school hours by tutors who are qualified teachers. Feedback from pupils, their parents and teachers already shows an impact on attainment, behaviour and motivation. Lessons learned from the pilot are being used to develop a national individual tuition programme which the Department for Children Schools and Families will launch next year. As the pilot moves into its second year, local authorities are looking to build their existing pool of tutors. As sessions take place outside the school day this offers would-be tutors an opportunity for flexible working arrangements and a chance to influence and develop knowledge of a new and developing pedagogic approach. For further information, and a chance to become involved please email Helen.Whetter@dcsf.gsi.gov.uk , or visit the Making Good Progress Pilot website.
Assessment News - Update on National Curriculum Tests The National Assessment Agency (NAA) has contracted Edexcel to provide additional back office support to complete the reviews for this year's national curriculum tests. NAA took over the management of the reviews process from ETS Europe in July and has already been considering reviews requests received before the end of the summer term. Markers undertaking reviews will have contracts directly with NAA. Senior members of NAA will work with markers throughout the review process, to ensure that strict quality standards are achieved. Edexcel will support the NAA by providing logistical and process management capacity and data entry facilities to ensure all reviews are concluded as quickly as possible and accurate outcomes returned to schools.
The Association for Achievement and Improvement through Assessment (AAIA) national conference 2008 entitled, "Pupil Voice and personalised learning. Who's talking? Who's listening?" was held recently at the Gosforth Park Marriott Hotel, Newcastle upon Tyne. Early review of the 126 delegates' evaluation forms suggests that many considered this one of the best conferences. The AAIA website has been given a major makeover and was re-launched in the week of the conference. Further detailed information about the 2008 conference is available on the members' section of the website. The CIEA website can be accessed through the AAIA website by clicking on "developments and issues". The theme for the next AAIA annual conference to be held between 16 - 18 September 2009 in Bournemouth, came from the keynote presentation by Sir John Jones. The title for the 2009 conference is likely to be - "Don't just teach me, help me to learn - the role of assessment". The new AAIA president is Keith Remnant, who takes over from Fiona Hartley. Keith can be contacted by email currentpresident@aaia.org.uk.
Assessment News - New - Single Level Tests Q&A England's Schools Secretary Ed Balls has been talking about how new single level tests (SLTs) may replace the current national curriculum tests or "Sats". So what makes them different? With the existing Sats in English, maths and science, questions cover a range of ability so that children can be scored at different levels. Within each age group, 10-11 and 13-14, they all take the same test at the same time in May.
Assessment News - New QCA Diploma webpages go live With traffic up from 1,777 hits in July 2007 to 9,674 hits in July 2008 (with a peak 13,439 hits in May 2008) the Diploma webpages on QCA have quickly become a vital source of information about the new qualification, which is being taught for this first time this September. Recognising this growth, QCA have redeveloped our Diploma webpages to make them easier to use, with content now subdivided into several new areas:
CPD - Events and Training Course Calendar Each month the CIEA communicates educational assessment focused events and training courses that are taking place around the UK. The INGOTS Staff Development Courses The assessor model supports staff development and this can be used to get recognition through the Teacher Learning Academy (TLA) of the General Teaching Council for England. ICT Assessor Training Assessor training courses are arranged on a regular basis at various geographical locations. If you are interested in becoming an assessor, sign up at click here... for the forthcoming courses or put your name and details on the course waiting list. We will use this to arrange courses as far as possible to suit the geographical location. In general, the course fee is £129 per delegate however, a discount of 15% is offered to CIEA members reducing the fee to £109.65. Communicate-ed Assessment related training courses: Communicate-ed is a company specialising in the training of education professionals who work in the area of special needs. The CIEA has negotiated a 15% discount for members. Please download the appropriate form for the Communicate-ed website Please return your application clearly marked 'CIEA discount' with your membership number. Please note that the discount only applies to the standard rate and cannot be used with any other offer. Training providers. Please contact info@ciea.org.uk if you would like to promote your courses within this section of CIEAMail. Members should be aware that the CIEA is only communicating these events to its members and not endorsing them.
Ed Balls announces Chair of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority DCSF, 17 September 2008 The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, today confirmed the appointment of Christopher Trinick as the Chair of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). The appointment takes effect from 1 November 2008 for 3 years. It is intended that Chris Trinick will become the first Chair of the Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency (QCDA) which, subject to Parliamentary approval, will be established when the qualifications regulator is put onto a statutory footing.
Let us know what you think of the e-newsletter and any features you'd like to see in future issues. If you're feeling creative and would like to contribute an article, please send an email to info@ciea.org.uk. Until next time...
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