The Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors welcomes the debate launched by Ofqual yesterday into the emotive subject of standards. The initial debate looked at the issue of A Level GCE. This is an important debate and should reach across all public examinations. Of prime importance is the need to be clear about the purposes of such examinations

CIEA Acting Director, Graham Herbert, said:

I welcome the increased openness on the purposes of public examinations. This will allow the tests to measure what they are intended to measure, increasing their validity and promoting clearer progression between secondary school and both Further and Higher Education as well as entry into the world of work.

I welcome the increased focus on evidence based interventions, rather than on introducing new ideas based upon a politically motivated agenda. The Secretary of State, Michael Gove, was careful yesterday to add his voice to the debate without giving instructions. This is a refreshing stance taken by the Secretary of State.

The CIEA has developed its own evidence base in assessment by publishing selected articles from post graduate research students in its new on-line journal, Passed Papers. Here, members of the CIEA can access the latest research into issues that concern them in current educational assessment. The current issue looks at embedding Assessment for Learning in a primary school setting, a critical reflection on the Greek Educator Selection system, developing a test to assess knowledge and understanding in Key Stage 2 science, the validity of controlled assessments in GCSE and research into the design of a Likert scale.

This new journal, with up-to-date research evidence will add to the quality of debate about standards in educational assessment.

Notes

Details about the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors Passed Papers can be found at http://www.ciea.org.uk/knowledge_centre/passed_papers/journal_issues/Passed_Papers_Issue_1.aspx

Further comment may be obtained from

CIEA Interim Director, Graham Herbert, on 07772 136 055

CIEA Chair, Dr John Dunford, on 07710 039 139

October 14^th.