What if... we re-designed our school testing and assessment system from scratch?

IOE Public Debates: What are Key Stage tests and national exams for – to support learning, certify competence, or sort pupils by ability? One answer is ‘all of the above’. But can our assessment system realistically do all of these things, simultaneously? There is the other question of whether we need all the formal tests and exams that we currently have, the number of which continues to expand, in the process prompting concerns among commentators and parents alike. And what about formative assessment and assessment for learning – where should that fit in the overall scheme of things? Speakers include: - Ken Jones, Lead Policy Advisor, National Education Union - Tim Oates, Group Director of Assessment Research and Development, Cambridge Assessment - Dave Mellor, Director of Assessment and Curriculum, AQA - Dr Ruth Dann, Associate Professor, Curriculum, Pedagogy and Assessment, UCL Institute of Education - Chair: Professor Becky Francis, Director, UCL Institute of Education #IOEDebates