‘The year ahead in Education’ (2011/12)

 

The Westminster Education Forum (WEF) aims to provide the premier environment for policymakers in Parliament, Whitehall and government agencies to engage with education professionals and stakeholders from educational industries, their advisors, interest groups, local authorities, the voluntary sector, academic and the press.

 

The description above outlining the opportunities provided by WEF explains why the EOA has to attend a section of these meetings. As this was the first of its kind to launch the new academic year it was an excellent opportunity to hear from the various establishment sources what is out there and how it will affect our community. But one of the key reasons for going is to raise the profile of members and represent their views and concerns.

 

The various speakers summarised below were given ten minutes to highlight what they felt were key issues related to their specific area within a context of how various programmes, activities and thinking might influence the education debate.

 

Not surprisingly the focus on securing good teachers was high on the agenda of Professor Chris Husbands (Institute of Education, University of London), Dr. Patrick Roach (NASUWT) and the chair of the Education Committee, Graham Stuart MP.

 

Dr. Roach’s presentation focused on the forthcoming industrial action by the teaching community in response to the issue on pensions and he mentioned how teachers were being presented with a pay freeze, increased work burden and longer hours for less pay. This is not new news to the exam office community and while the teaching unions seemed to be always focusing on their own community, Dr. Roach did elude to the dismise of the Schools Staff Support Negotiating Body (SSSNB) which had been designed to address a support staff employment framework.

 

But as many will know the delivery of education, with a focus on an exam culture is not all about teachers. Glenys Stacey (Chief Executive of Ofqual) highlighted in her presentation the importance of exams office staff to education delivery and made direct references to the importance of the EOA exams office community in her presentation. While teachers are top of the pile in terms of educational development delivering students successfully through the education system, is a team affair with support staff from the exams office playing a vital role.

 

Mark Dawle (Chief Executive) of OCR added his comments to the debate on the future role of examinations pointing out that while the diploma has provided some key elements that can be further developed it failed because it was just too complex and expensive too deliver. Any new exam programmes needed to be mapped out in a more holistic way with awarding bodies providing, if necessary less exams, with more targeted outcomes.

 

In conclusion while the debate on education continues, the impact and contribution that formal exams play in future education policy will need to be addressed by this government which means, whether we like or not, more change for the exam office community. Being at such meetings and making a contribution puts exam office staff’s views on exam delivery near the top of the education agenda.  

 

Westminster Education Forum – 11/10/2011