At this year’s Liberal Democrat Spring Conference, the Education Policy Institute (EPI) has partnered with the National Education Union (NEU) to hold an open fringe panel discussion: ‘The future of assessment: envisioning an exam system adapted to the 21st century’.
The future of assessment is uncertain. Many questions are being asked about the relevance of summative desk exams in today’s world: do they put undue pressure on pupils’ mental health? Are they fair for all students? How can we ensure we support students with SEND to fulfil their potential within this system? Do these exams truly test the knowledge and skills we want children and young people to be learning or are they rather a test of memory?
In the wake of the pandemic, when teachers and pupils have made great efforts to shift learning online, what role should digital assessment play in the future? Is there a space for adaptive online assessment? If so, what should it look like?
This panel will bring together policy makers, school leaders, parent voices and other education stakeholders to examine the current assessment system and consider possible alternatives that may be better suited to today’s educational landscape. The discussion will cover the types of skills and competencies which are necessary for work and life in the 21st century and how schools and colleges could assess these to best prepare students for their next steps.
We are pleased to welcome Kevin Courtney, NEU; Tom Dower, UTC South Durham; Jason Elsom, Parentkind; Dr Sal Jarvis, Liberal Democrats Education Association and Munira Wilson MP to the panel. Natalie Perera, EPI’s Chief Executive, will chair the session.
** Note: This event will take place outside the conference secure zone so a pass is not required to attend.**
