Wednesday 10th October:
Assessment : a system fit for purpose?
The Westminster Education Forum
Draft agenda subject to change
9.00 - 9.30
Registration and refreshments
9.30 - 9.35
Chairman's opening remarks
Senior parliamentarian
9.35 - 10.00
Evaluating assessment systems
Keynote speaker’s theme: How many purposes do our assessment systems need to be fit for? Just how fit do our systems need to be for each purpose? How ought we to judge their overall legitimacy?
Paul Newton, Head of Assessment Research, Regulation and Standards Division, Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
Questions and comments from the floor
10.00 - 10.25
Comparative analysis of assessment practice and progress in the UK and USA
Theme: Analysis of existing methods and future needs.
Professor Dylan Wiliam, Deputy Director and Professor of Educational Assessment, Institute of Education University of London
Questions and comments from the floor
10.25 - 11.15
Assessment now: Frameworks, capacity and innovation
Theme: What is working in the UK that can be built on? What financial, teaching and other resources are needed to support innovation in assessment? What can be learnt from alternative methods of assessment from outside the UK?
Andrew Bird, Deputy Director General, Assessment and Qualifications Alliance
Mike Gibbons, Chief Executive, The Innovation Unit
Angela Hands, Director, National Audit Office
Kathy Baker, Senior Policy Advisor, General Teaching Council for England
Bailey Mitchell, Chief Technology and Information Officer, Forsyth County Schools, Cumming, Georgia
Questions and comments from the floor
11.15 - 11.20
Chairman's closing remarks
Senior parliamentarian
11.20 - 11.40
Coffee
11.40 - 11.45
Chairman's opening remarks
Eric Joyce MP, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Education Group
11.45 - 12.35
Content and purpose of tests: What, why, how?
Theme: Do tests for conventional academic subjects provide an accurate picture of a learner’s ability? How can ‘soft skills’ be assessed effectively for employers and further and higher education institutions? Do school league tables give a fair reflection for parents of pupil and teacher ability? How can the assessment system provide the best motivation for learners? Is there a danger in the UK of assessing too much?
Martin Ward, Deputy General-Secretary, Association of School and College Leaders
Jon Berry, Editor, www.rethinkinged.org.uk
Jill Johnson, Director of Policy and Communications, Universities & Colleges Admissions Service
Colin Willman, Chairman of Education & Skills, Federation of Small Businesses
Senior representative, learner’s view
Questions and comments from the floor
12.35 - 13.25
What is the future for assessment in schools?
Theme: How could the efficiency of data gathering and analysis of results be improved and applied to enhance teaching? Should the timing of testing be dependent on individual learner aptitude? Perspectives on best practice in managing the assessment of diplomas and vocational courses. How can the comparative value of new qualifications be communicated to learners, parents and employers?
Dr Marian Sainsbury, Head of Literacy Assessment Research, National Foundation of Educational Research
Stephen Jury, Chief Executive Officer, Promethean
Judith Compton, Head of Standards and Qualifications, Sector Skills Development Agency
Dr Vikki Smith, Head of Assessment and Standards, Assessment and Quality Directorate, City & Guilds
Sue Ferris, Assistant Headteacher, Falmouth School, Cornwall
Questions and comments from the floor
13.25 - 13.30
Chairman’s and WEdF closing remarks
Eric Joyce MP, Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Education Group
Peter van Gelder, Director, Westminster Education Forum
13.30 - 14.00
Light lunch
View the agenda for Monday 8th October
View the agenda for Tuesday 9th October
Page last updated: Monday, September 24, 2007
