With the cancellation of GCSE and A-Level exams for the second year running, there has never been a more important time to debate the future of assessment.
EDSK’s report ‘Re-assessing the future’ offers a welcome piece of the puzzle, as we consider what our assessment system should look like this year and beyond. The report provides an insightful summary of the historical context behind GCSEs, posing the question that - given we are now a fifth of the way through the 21st century, why do we still rely so heavily on an assessment system that was introduced in the 1980s (based on roots as far back as 1911) and has remained largely untouched since then?
EDSK’s report also highlights some key starting ingredients for a successful reform of secondary education system based on: rigour; coherence; value and aspiration, and offers some pragmatic ideas on how to move towards digital assessments.
The report offers an important stepping stone towards more radical reform of the assessment system. At Edge, we continue to advocate for a broad and balanced curriculum, one that brings academic and technical subjects closer together and equips our young people with the skills and knowledge needed to success in their broader lives and workplace.
Find out more about the work of the Rethinking Assessment movement which Edge is supporting. This week we hosted a webinar with Robert Halfon MP and members of the Rethinking Assessment team to discuss the evidence and options – you can find out more and watch a recording of that webinar here.
We look forward to continuing a wider debate with colleagues across the third sector, educational institutions and in government to consider how assessment can be improved for the future.
EDSK’s Report ‘Re-assessing the future’ can be downloaded here.