Achieve Summer 2010

Welcome to Achieve What does the new coalition Government Exams, planes and automobiles The latest news from Cambridge Assessment, mean for education and assessment? Fiat and Air France are now using Cambridge ESOL’s business the University’s international exams group. We explore some of the promises and key commitments. English exam to assess their workforce’s language skills. see page 7 see page 4

Raising the standard

Exam boards bowing to political pressure to make GCSEs and A levels more “accessible” could be one reason for the increase in top grades, a leading academic has warned.

Tim Oates, Group Director of Assessment Research and Development at Cambridge Assessment, accused the past governments of arbitrary and “faddish” changes to the examinations system. In the last 15 years, politicians have banned, then reintroduced, the use of calculators in maths GCSE exams seven times.

His comments were made during a Cambridge Assessment debate to clarify public understanding of the complex and varied issues involved in the different examination standards issues. The event was attended by more than 100 assessment experts, employers and teachers, and watched live online by over 1,000 people.

Bene’t Steinberg, Group Director of Public Affairs, said: “We urged educationalists everywhere to join a large-scale project which could change how we talk about exams and standards for good. The aim was to get people talking about the same thing at the same time – which is why we organised a comprehensive and unbiased debate on the matter. continued on page 3

Cambridge Assessment is a department of the University of Cambridge, and a not-for-profit organisation. www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk o m Educating the global learner Vi e w f r Teachers from around the world will discuss the challenges and opportunities in educating the ‘global learner’ at CIE’s 6th International Teachers’ Conference in Cambridge.

CIE Director of Education, Dr Kevin Stannard, said: “It’s a more exciting, more integrated, more joined-up “We seek to prepare our learners for a much more world; but also a more uncertain world.” fluid and dynamic world in which specific knowledge and even particular skills may easily and quickly be During the two-day conference teachers will be able rendered redundant by technological, economic and to explore the dimensions of global education, seeking social change. Economic and environmental decisions to identify and share international best practice in John Rallison, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education made in one part of the world can have a profound education for a connected world. at Cambridge University and Professor in effect on people in another. the Department of Applied Mathematics and For further details visit: www.cie.org.uk Theoretical Physics.

Qualifications for Crossing the threshold HE entry – the future… The 32nd Language Testing Research The recent Sykes review of examinations taken at 16 and Colloquium was successfully held in 18 recommends a greater involvement of universities

n e w s in b r i f Cambridge this April. and employers in the design and implementation of qualifications. HE is nowadays, by some margin, the largest The conference themed ‘Crossing the threshold: ‘consumer’ of students taking A levels, and Cambridge investigating levels, domains and frameworks in University, through its association with Cambridge language assessment’ brought together key researchers Assessment, has a double interest. from the language testing world for a series of sessions. Dr Elana Shohamy’s acceptance speech of the 2010 Cambridge recruits its undergraduates internationally, and so Highlights included Dr Elana Shohamy – one of Israel’s Lifetime Achievement Award at the 32nd Language Testing we deal with a wide range of qualifications from applicants. leading language research specialists – being awarded Research Colloquium. Experience has taught us that administratively tidy but naïve the 2010 Lifetime Achievement Award. There was also numerical equivalences do not capture the suitability of a special celebration to mark the 15th anniversary of The celebration brought together many of the 38 different qualifications for our academically rigorous courses. Studies in Language Testing series of research volumes authors who have written and edited volumes in the In consequence we publish lists of A levels and combinations published jointly by Cambridge ESOL and Cambridge series and a special anniversary book in the series thereof recommended as particularly appropriate for our University Press. was launched. courses. In addition we are open about the examination options required (e.g. for the new Diploma qualifications); and we are explicit about the level of attainment typically required (e.g. by setting offers of admission using the new A* grade). This transparency has often attracted adverse Virtual conference talks technology media comment, so we especially welcome the proposal from Sykes and others that publication of such information New technologies in the business English classroom still have many challenges associated should become standard for all HE providers in future. with access in some parts of the world – according to leading experts in business English.

On the other hand I have little sympathy for the narrow, Speaking in May at Cambridge ESOL’s annual business other classroom technology, but it’s still a fact that one-size-fits-all standardised University admissions English World of Work forum – held for the first time most teachers around the world do not have access test recommended by Sykes. Such tests can and will be as a virtual conference – consultant Gavin Dudeney, to these kind of things, so we’re referring to a minority ‘taught to’. It is also open to question whether a single a specialist in online teacher training commented: of teachers and learners.” test can encompass the diversity of the UK HE sector and “We hear a lot about interactive white boards and simultaneously provide the fine-grained differentiation required to help select between the highest achievers.

The University supports the depth and breadth of the Cambridge Pre-U and International GCSEs that Cambridge A gateway to the arts Assessment has pioneered. Nevertheless for the time being, we expect, in common with the rest of the sector, that A A new online resource has been launched to assist teachers and learners in the development levels will remain our most common entry route for UK of Arts, Creative and Performing Media skills. students. There would surely be significant benefit if HE became more involved in the design of A level courses. In The gateway created by OCR provides teachers my own area, for example, the separation of Physics from with a wealth of material including detailed syllabus Mathematics together with the modular structure of both specifications, schemes of work, exemplar materials has done harm. Some prospective students, even talented and marking schemes. It also features galleries of students, seem unaware that Physics is a quantitative students’ work for Art, Music and Drama. subject, still less that mathematical thinking should underpin and support their scientific understanding. For them, the “There is a great deal of synergy between the different school/university transition can be correspondingly difficult. subject areas within the Arts,” says Neil Cameron, The constructive suggestion from Cambridge Assessment OCR’s Curriculum Manager for Arts and Humanities. of bringing practitioners in HE together to re-examine the “In creating this single Arts resource, we can offer a A level curriculum is one that I welcome and chimes with seamless link between the subjects, making access proposals made by the incoming Government. Cambridge to information and guidance as straightforward as should play a full part. possible for teachers and learners.”

For further details visit: www.ocr.org.uk/thearts

2 Achieve u Summer 2010 u Cambridge Assessment 3 provide a stimulating and challenging alternative a stimulating and challenging alternative provide also MFL are Cambridge Pre-U study. A level to which can be completed available as short courses, year. one in Subject Principal Cambridge Pre-U first The on will be published examination results August. 19 Anastasia de Waal, said: “We need to sever national to sever need said: “We Waal, de Anastasia of individual the assessment from accountability performance.” film and a short the event, from Proceedings on podcast is available www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk exam Assessment’s Cambridge on full report A the beginning off at which kicked campaign – standards seminar and with a parliamentary research year the of will be published in – debate online with an continued autumn. early

Dr Milanovic added: “Currently the General Medical Council (GMC)Council conducts General Medical the added: “Currently Dr Milanovic the International English staff using on non EU healthcare language assessment tests. English language most effective world’s the of one System, Testing Language have working in healthcare the professionals of the majority that This has ensured out, current pointed has rightly Committee the As of English. standard an excellent from doctors on tests systematic conducting from GMC the EU legislation prevents internationally reliable that a national scheme, based around believe We the EEA. prevent to and help public confidence would increase qualifications recognised tragic accidents.” further

L) have received a helping hand received (MFL) have Languages oreign

John Bangs said: “I think there is an implication there there is an implication there think John Bangs said: “I terms on in schools in what goes and that standards to be more do need really teaching and learning of for is an argument There for example. integrated, that the idea did, but Tomlinson GCSEs as looking at where system tiered to a to return we have somehow sorted at 14 between automatically are children the thing the last is and academic routes vocation want.” the profession of colleagues in vast majority the teachers boycotting to head And in relation they tests at age 11 in England because national tests, the of nature stakes the high of disapprove The post-16 Cambridge Pre-U MFL courses retain retain MFL courses Cambridge Pre-U The post-16 of the language well as as the culture of the study to teachers and students other countries and ask to add breadth of contemporary sources use make their studies. to Chinese Spanish, German, in French, Available MFL Pre-U Cambridge Mandarin and Russian, learners to give designed certificates are to their language abilities and confidence in The panel (L:R): Bene’t Steinberg, Group Director of Public Affairs; Anastasia de Waal, Director of Family and Education at of Family Director Waal, de Anastasia Affairs; of Public Director Group Steinberg, The panel (L:R): Bene’t of Education, Secretary Assistant John Bangs, of London; University of Education, Stobart, Institute Gordon Civitas; Professor Tim of Nottingham; and University and Evaluating Lifelong Learning, for Developing Centre Murphy, Roger Professor NUT; Development. and Assessment Research of Director Group Oates, English testing to include European doctors in the UK the doctors in to include European testing English A House of Commons report calling for more thorough testing of the English language skills of overseas doctors wanting to work to wanting doctors overseas of the English language skills of testing thorough for more calling report Commons of A House Cambridge ESOL. by welcomed UK has been the in Professor Gordon Stobart agreed that the standards the standards that Stobart agreed Gordon Professor and should be nowhere” debate “goes time over with exams standards abandoned. He compared two people got “In 1953 climbing Mount Everest: achievement an extraordinary of Everest, top the to day in 1996, 39 people single on a Yet time. the at that might suggest That the summit. on stood Yet to climb. times easier had become 20 Everest Of course, height.the same the mountain remains training, better equipment, better today people have that sense, it is less on. In better nutrition and so people can climb Everest. that more surprising less the achievement that may make while But of the ‘standard’ does not change it exceptional, the mountain climbing achievement.” Professor Roger Murphy commented that exam commented Murphy Roger Professor that simple reason the for to change papers have that time. He said the the curriculum changes all assessment is “not an exact science”. Other panellists at the debate on 29 April at RSA April at on 29 debate the Other panellists at Murphy, Roger Professor House, London, included: and Evaluating Lifelong for Developing Centre John Bangs, of Nottingham; University Learning, Union of Education, National Secretary Assistant of Stobart, Institute Gordon Professor Teachers; of de Anastasia and of London; University Education, Civitas. at and Education of Family Director Waal, “It is a bold step to take but it is important that we that but it is important take to “It is a bold step We to us. of such central importance topic on a lead the less of the hands debate in the cannot just leave well informed.” Schools teaching or planning to teach Cambridge Pre-U Modern F Cambridge Pre-U teach to or planning teaching Schools Promoting language learning in UK schools UK in learning language Promoting online surgery. with a new standard the Raising continued from page 1 A common theme was the observation that students observation the was theme A common the study from benefitting and clearly enjoying were and had made this level language at foreign of a the course. during substantial progress During the week-long surgery, MFL teachers joined MFL surgery, week-long the During teachers other examiners, subject specialists, heads and models approach, Cambridge Pre-U the discuss to to raise of implementation in individual schools, and teaching. of aspect questions about any Welcoming the report, Dr Michael Milanovic, CEO of Cambridge ESOL, said: of CEO Dr Michael Milanovic, the report, Welcoming critical public delivering to when it comes frontline the in “Doctors are write, speak and understand they read, that paramount services. It is absolutely with patients they can communicate effectively that so to a high level English and colleagues.” The report from the House of Commons Health Committee – entitled ‘The use Committee Health Commons of the House from The report systematic for more services’ – calls out-of-hours doctors in providing overseas of (EEA). Area Economic the European from doctors for testing English language 4 Cambridge Assessment u Summer 2010 u Achieve top businessEnglishexamBULATS to assess the languageskills of their workforces. This summer, transport giantsFiatand Air F Exams, planesandautomobiles teachers of Englishasa foreign language. scholarships from Cambridge ESOL to attend the annual IATEGlobal FL conference for In recognition of their teaching skills, two English teachers have beenawarded academic Recognising bestpractice to them in the long run.” English and is a great benefit a closer approach to real-life the classroom. This gives them authentic material in and out of get more students reading and there is a real need to Peru for almost two decades involved in English teaching in Grayson said: “I’ve been ceremony at the event Ralph Speaking at a special award reading skills. the impact assessment has on in recognition for his work on Thomas Lenth’s scholarship was the English language classroom. authentic reading materials in for his ideas and work on using Católica del Perú, was presented the Scholarship Ralph, who currently teaches at Pontificia Universidad Language Assessment respectively. in Teacher Training Scholarship and Best Practice in Germany’s Thomas Lenth were awarded Best Practice Peru-based English teacher-trainer Ralph Grayson and ESOL, said:“Englishis ESOL, the globallanguage of business Dr MichaelMilanovic, Chief Executive of Cambridge the group to evaluate nearly 6,000 employees each year. to replace the existing language assessment tests used by March that Air France would be working with Cambridge skills of its managers. This followed confirmation last will shortly begin using the test to assess the language Italy’s Fiat group confirmed the appointment in April and remain globally competitive. have goodlevels of Englishlanguageabilityin order to range of sectors, that are nowrecognising the need to This ispart of agrowing trend for businesses, from a

Ralph Grayson acceptinghisscholarship from Cambridge ESOL’s Nick Charge.

rance will beginusing Cambridge ESOL’s more detail than has ever been done before. project is doing to profile learners’ level of ability in of the groundbreaking work that the English Profile included a talk by Professor John Hawkins showing some 2000 teachers from around the world. Other highlights IATEFL 2010 conference which was attended by over Both winners were presented with their award at tests asreliable proof of EnglishLanguageability. around the world which recognise Cambridge ESOL Air France andFiatjoin the 10,000 organisations across their entire organisation.” airline to benchmark the Englishlanguageskills on communicationand this project will allow the development. The aviationindustryrelies soheavily language testing service for training andstaff France who need anaccurateandreliable business globe. BULATS was designed for companieslike Air that have staffandcustomersspread across the effective communicationsisamust for businesses and in today’s highly competitive globaleconomy,

Assessment Reform Challenges of reforms pastandpresent? What lessonscan we learn from its success? provide. They’ll discuss: what ensures some of the bestexperts the UK can challenges of assessment reform with Conference will address the The 5th Cambridge Assessment www.assessnet.org.uk/conference2010 place, canbe found on details of the programme andhow to book your Further details of the conference, including University of Oxford. of Durham,andDr Geoff Hayward from the Professor Peter Tymms from the University Frank Ventura from the University of Malta, Baird from the University of Bristol,Professor Seminar speakers will beProfessor Jo-Anne questions submittedby audiencemembers. Cardiff University will beinvited to respond to from Ofqual, andRichard Daugherty from of Teachers andLecturers, Kathleen Tattersall including DrMaryBousted from the Association Baker, former BBCEducationEditor. Panellists also feature apanel discussion, chaired by Mike For the first time, this year’s conference will Davies from Oxford EvidentiaLtd. The secondkeynote speaker will be DrPhilip in1987/8.”curriculum assessment, Testing which developed early plans for national syllabuses to the Task Group on Assessment and the development of early Nuffield Alevel on many assessmentreforms in the past, from professor of scienceeducation who has worked of our keynote speakers. Paul isaneminent Black from King’s College London, will be one very pleased to announce that Professor Paul Assessment Network,commented:“We are Dr Paul Newton,Director of the Cambridge qualifications andmore. skills controlledtesting, assessments,project arrangements for national testing, functional at A level, diploma qualifications, revised the introduction of stretch andchallenge marking crisis of 2008. Current reforms include for markingnationalcurriculum tests and the 2002, to the appointment of anewcontractor 2000 A levels which led to the grading furore of reform; from the introduction of Curriculum witnessed numerous crises of assessment severe. In the past decade alone,Englandhas the consequences of gettingit wrong canbe but the processes of changeare complexand The potentialgains from reform maybehigh classroom practice. Assessment for Learning within everyday struggling to understandhowbest to integrate while others are Many abandoningit. are Some countriesare embracingnational testing, Assessment isunderreform all over the world. What underminesit?

seat Achieve t How well do Europeans speak other languages? the h o u

As the experts gear up for a ground-breaking survey of language competence across Europe, we ask language specialist Dr Neil Jones Summer 2010 in from Cambridge ESOL how the recent trials of the survey in March 2010 panned out.

“The results from So what’s been happening with SurveyLang? What else has been happening with SurveyLang? SurveyLang will provide the In a nutshell, all the systems are in place and the The year leading up to the Field Trial was really data that decision-makers testing tool for the project is now ready. We have hectic. We developed and pretested over 2,000 items u in Europe need to make completed trials in 40 sampled schools in each in five languages, set up communication and support C ambridge A ssessment evidence-based policy participating country, which will show what final channels for the national teams administering the decisions on language refinements are needed to the testing tool before the survey in each country, produced over 90 manuals learning,” according to main study next year. The results of the main survey and documents, and ran in-depth training sessions. Dr Neil Jones, who is also in 2011 will help form evidence-based policy making We’ve launched an informative multilingual website, the project’s Vice-Director. decisions all across Europe so there was a lot banking including sample test materials and instructions in Dr Neil Jones, Assistant on getting this pilot right and I’m pleased to say it all the languages spoken in the countries Director, Research The brainchild of the was a success. participating in the survey. and Validation, European Commission, Cambridge ESOL. SurveyLang is the first How will SurveyLang affect the way we learn And finally, what’s next for SurveyLang? of its kind and will assess languages across Europe? We’re currently busy working with our partners foreign language ability Well, we’ll see. For the first time, key policy makers will across Europe to analyse the Field Trial results. of school-age students in have access to comparable data on foreign language Among other things we’ll be validating the innovative European countries providing competence and knowledge about good practice in approach we’ve taken to the marking of Writing. comparable second language learning. This can only be a good thing as it There’s a lot going on in the SurveyLang project language competence data will help governments form important policy decisions which I think will be of interest to language throughout Europe. around the way language is taught across Europe. testers generally.

Creative approach to poetry Supporting Egyptian

Students using performance, art, dance, music and technology to explore and interpret schools selected poems have been captured on film to help teachers in the classroom. A new group of schools being piloted in Egypt is getting an extensive range A new DVD ‘Virtual Visions’ will be available as delivering the new OCR GCSE English specifications of education and teacher support a resource to support OCR’s new 2010 GCSE and offer a unique resource that will help to promote English specifications. our offering.” services thanks to CIE.

Debbie Daniels, OCR’s seconded English Supported by guidance notes, including examiner The first five Nile Egyptian Schools will be fully teacher, said: “It was a pleasure to work with so tips and an expert panel discussion on poetry, ‘Virtual open by July 2015, with approximately 1,000 many creative schools and to see the different Visions’ has been designed to: stimulate discussion learners in each school aged 4 to 18. approaches used in teaching poetry. For example, and interest in the poems; demonstrate a variety Year 10 at Matravers School in Bath have explored of creative teaching approaches to engage learners; CIE is developing English and Arabic medium Carol-Ann Duffy’s poem ‘Who Loves You’ through and show the curricula and assessments in eight subject the medium of drama, and they also produced a different ways in areas. These are benchmarked to Egyptian dance interpretation of Thomas Hardy’s ‘The Voice’. which pupils in a and international standards. Learners will gain I’m confident that teachers will be inspired by the range of schools internationally accredited certificates at Grade range of interpretations schools have provided for have explored 10, 11 and 12 (ages 16 to 18). us. I think that this DVD will really help teachers the poems. David Jeffery, CIE Assistant Director, Educational Partnerships, said: “Learners at Nile Egyptian Schools will develop the knowledge and skills that are relevant to their own local context, as well as those which are developed by learners at a comparable level around the world.”

The Nile Egyptian Schools are not-for-profit schools, with the majority of funding coming from the Educational Development Fund of the Office of the Prime Minister. The project will extend access to families for whom private education is out of reach.

CIE is recognised around the world for developing course content and assessments that can be offered within or alongside local education programmes, while maintaining internationally benchmarked standards. The exam board is also offering teacher and leadership training, and professional development for teachers; all Behind the scenes of ‘Virtual Visions’. benchmarked against international standards.

5 6 Cambridge Assessment u Summer 2010 u Achieve Enterprise Academy, abusinessskills development The Apprentice-style challenge was part of the Football Club by Year 9students from Surrey. showcasing areal-life marketing campaign for Fulham for BusinessInnovation and Skills at the specialevent Premier League,Enterprise UK, and the Department entrepreneurs, OCR joinedrepresentatives from the Looking out for the nextgeneration of UK business the organisation that helpaclub operate successfully. perspective, learningaboutall the different sections of the inner workings of a football club from abusiness Students taking the qualification are educatedabout Academy Certificate inBusinessand Enterprise. The pupilsare all working towards the OCR Enterprise for Trade, Investment and Small Business. the Premier LeagueandLord Davies, the then Minister of the initiative, Richard Scudamore, Chief Executive of Their raptaudienceincluded two highprofile backers club’s headquarters, the famous Craven Cottage. skills atanevent hostedat the Londonpremiership Park High – took their chance to show off their business The pupils– from Coombe Boys’ School andRaynes and predictive of their future academic success? applicants in a way that is consistent, fair, transparent with a real challenge: how can they choose between numbers of well-qualified applicants present institutions undergraduate places. In this context, the increasing are simultaneously faced with a Government cap on per cent by March 2010. Yet universities in England cent in 2010 (UCAS, January 2010), levelling off to 16.5 to UK HE institutions have increased by over 22 per His comments come as news that UCAS applications of specificcourses.” finely tuning the decisionprocess to the requirements sophisticated use of ‘baskets’ of data andinformation, and this indeedisemerging insomeinstitutions–is could constitutea‘magicbullet’. What we need– process and we’re notlookinghere atanything which great importance.It’s acomplex decision-making instruments usedin the selectionprocess, are of mechanisms “The of how we selectand the HE is of increasing publicinterest. and therefore the topic of competitive admissions to today we have alimitednumber of placesavailable has increased dramatically inrecent decades, and yet societalexpectationaround“The participationinHE and Development at Cambridge said: Assessment, Tim Oates, Group Director of Assessment Research of competitive admissions to HigherEducation(HE), Speaking atarecent seminar to highlight the issue conundrum, according to a top academic. to solve the competitive admissions There is no “magic bullet” for universities admissions conundrum No “magicbullet” for to boost their chance of scoringasuccessinan A pioneeringgroup of Surrey pupilsjoined forces with premiership soccerclub, and this season’s Europa League finalists, Fulham Pupils take businessskills to premiership level Janet Graham, Director of SPA, speakingat the event. High School. Y9 pupils from Coombe Boys’ School andRaynesPark HE admissions tests, www.atsts.org.ukvisit: For more details about Cambridge Assessment’s available on www.cambridgeassessment.org.uk. A podcastandhighlights video from the event is are fit forpurpose,in that theyare fairand valid. it isimportant that the assessmentinstrumentsused institutions to help differentiate betweenapplicants, different forms of assessmentare available to The speakers concurred that, whilst anumber of between applicants. of assessment were used to help with differentiating for Oxford’s medicalcourseandhow various forms Oxford University, outlined the admissionsprocess Wilkins, Coordinator for Admissions to Medicineat issues around the use of contextual data. DrRobert admissions and widening participation,including the recommendations on transparency and fairness in discussed the impact of the Schwartz Report’s Professionalism in Admissions Programme), who included Janet Graham, Director of SPA (Supporting Other specialists who took partin discussions Clubs are aninteresting microcosm of a whole lot of to see what they can do in the world of business. young people to raise their horizons andlook forward creating chancesprogramme which aims to inspire a difference where we can. It’s allpart of our overall have beenusing the power of football to try andmake Richard Scudamore, said:“We at the Premier League Explaining the concept of the Enterprise Academies, from schoolsin the Fulhamarea. initiative which aims to help400pupilsaged11–19 OCR qualification inbusinessandenterprise. OCR qualification within thenext three years. and itisenvisaged that 5,000 students will achieve the engaged with the programme by the end of the year schools. The target is to have every Premier League club Academy Certificate inBusinessandEnterpriselocal – and the first London club– to deliver the Enterprise Fulham Football Club is one of 12Premier Leagueclubs – this is the focal point of the initiative.” businesses –sales,marketing, safety, logistics,catering and Lord Davies. (L:R): OCR’s Richard Powell, Scott Cain, Richard Scudamore leading languageassessmentprovider. from Cambridge ESOL– the world’s reading inEnglish,according to figures Dutch speakingstudentsare the bestat 7 millionstudentsglobally since1989. and IDP:IELTS Australia –hasbeen taken by around education. The test –available through British Council to prove their Languageability for work or higher students from all over the world use the English test (with scores of 6.76 and6.60respectively). Each year, speaking studentsalsoscored very highly for reading speakers (6.78). Outside Europe, Malayand Tagalog speakers (7.13), French speakers (6.80)andPortuguese for reading were German speakers (7.22), Romanian Other groups of students that appeared in the top five Netherlands are very encouraging.” their counterpartsand the results we’re seeingin the the Englishlanguageclassroom have the edge over who read authenticmaterialsbothinand out of set and developed the said:“Wetest, find that those Dr MichaelMilanovic CEO of Cambridge ESOL, which language well”. of 0–9, which means they can“handlecomplex reading skills with anaverage score of 7.79 on ascale came top of the class for their performanceinEnglish by over amillionpeopleeach year. Dutchspeakers English Language Test (IELTS) –anEnglish test taken performance of students who took the International Compiled this spring, the results illustrate the 2009 reading English top of the classat Dutch students Achieve What does the new coalition Government tl i ght

mean for education and assessment? u Summer 2010 sp o

Both parties have also spoken favourably of the International GCSE, the Conservatives going so far as committing to “immediately allow all state schools to do the International GCSE starting this September”. This commitment survives the coalition agreement, u with the promise that state schools will be able to C ambridge A ssessment offer qualifications like the IGCSE. It will now be up to the Government to provide a clear timetable for implementation so that state schools are able to plan for the future.

Again, both parties talk about the need to reform league tables in their manifestos. The Conservatives say that they will introduce reform “so that schools can demonstrate they are stretching the most able and raising the attainment of the less able”. The Liberal Democrats want “to give parents more meaningful information which truly reflects the performance of a school” and, in a similar vein to Conservative policy, to end incentives to focus on those at the C-grade After the campaign trail is over, the leaders’ negotiation proceedings, the full coalition agreement borderline. So reform of some kind is on the cards, and television debates have been analysed, only provides some clues to the direction of policy the coalition agreement makes clear that its aim is to election night has passed, and five days under the coalition. The devil will therefore be in allow schools to focus on the progress of children of the detail. all abilities. However, there has been little indication of negotiating not known for 65 years in about how this desired outcome will be achieved. British politics have reached an outcome, Pre-election Conservative and Liberal Democrat what are we left with? And what will be the policy on HE funding and academies indicate areas Inevitable budget cuts are likely to have an impact on impact on education policy in particular? for divergence, but in other areas a level of agreement education quango budgets in particular. The Liberal existed even before the election. As an overarching Democrats have called for an independent Educational Both coalition partners have made education policy policy theme, both parties have focused on the need Standards Authority to replace Qualifications and a priority area in recent years – with both having had to cut out political interference in education – the Curriculum Development Agency, Ofqual and Ofsted. senior Members of Parliament (MP) occupying the Conservatives in their proposals for Swedish style This is unlikely to be supported by the Conservatives brief. Indeed, until the last moment it was unclear free schools and removing political intervention in who will have concerns about creating another quango. whether the Conservatives or the Liberal Democrats qualifications, and the Liberal Democrats in their However, both parties are likely to agree that the would take the education portfolio. In the end, the job proposals for an Education Freedom Act, to prevent QCDA is a potential place to make budget savings. went to the Conservative MP, Michael Gove, who has politicians meddling in the daily running of schools. held the shadow cabinet position since 2007. The future around diplomas is also uncertain, and the In terms of the curriculum, there is a level of parties differ on their policy in this area. They have Not only has there been change at the top, but also a convergence around the need for reform, although never been strongly backed by the Conservatives, new name for the department, now the Department exactly what that reform should look like may differ whilst the Liberal Democrats have favoured a new for Education. It remains to be seen what the impact between parties. The Conservatives have said that they General Diploma, mixing vocational and academic of this will be – the actual remit of the department would “reform the National Curriculum so that it is learning. The coalition agreement merely signals that appears to have changed little, with further and more challenging” whilst the Liberal Democrats have the Government wants to “improve the quality of higher education remaining as part of the Department said that they would replace the National Curriculum vocational education” and that this involves increasing for Business, Innovation and Skills. However, early with a slimmed down ‘Minimum Curriculum flexibility. Technical Academies, also supported by communications from Gove suggest that he wants Entitlement’. For the time being, the coalition the previous Government and being pushed forward to “refocus the department on its core purpose of agreement simply states that the parties by former Education Secretary Lord Baker, are supporting teaching and learning”. want to ensure “that all schools have greater unsurprisingly seen as part of that plan. freedom over curriculum”. Whilst we know that education policy, the pupil In terms of other policy areas, the most prominent premium in particular, was a key part of the Conservative education policy, the Swedish free schools model, has been given the go-ahead by the Liberal Democrats, with the coalition agreement stating that the Government will give parents, What does the coalition promise? Some of the key commitments: teachers, charities and local communities the chance to set up new schools and an Education Bill to give schools academy style freedoms promised by the • We will promote the reform of schools in order • We will publish performance data on educational end of the month. However, the Liberal Democrats’ to ensure that new providers can enter the state providers, as well as past exam papers. support for local council ‘sponsored’ schools in their school system in response to parental demand; • We will create more flexibility in the exams manifesto suggests that agreement in this area is not that all schools have greater freedom over the systems so that state schools can offer going to be easy. curriculum; and that all schools are held properly qualifications like the IGCSE. to account. • We will reform league tables so that schools are So overall what are we likely to see? Removing • We will give parents, teachers, charities and local able to focus on, and demonstrate, the progress political interference from education, particularly the communities the chance to set up new schools, as of children of all abilities. everyday running of schools, seems to be the common part of our plans to allow new providers to enter • We will improve the quality of vocational thread that unites the two parties as they search for a the state school system in response to parental education, including increasing flexibility for 14–19 narrative that extends beyond pure pragmatism. The demand. year olds and creating new Technical Academies test however, as former Education Secretaries alluded • We will simplify the regulation of standards in as part of our plans to diversify schools provision. to in a recent session of the Select Committee, will be education and target inspection on areas of failure. how in reality they deal with the ever present tension between central and local responsibility now they are in office.

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th i s Speaking business Volcanic eruptions – all in a day’s work for English, 21st exam board atch w century style There is always a first time for anything in the exams business. So when the ash cloud

The new version of Cambridge ESOL’s top from the Icelandic volcano disrupted international air travel CIE had to pull out all the business English test BULATS will soon be stops to ensure pupils around the world received their question papers on time. available with a fully online speaking and writing element. This will improve the service The first eruption of the Eyjafjallajokull volcano Because they are top secret until the day of the to those seeking to improve their language grounded all flights in and out of the UK and many examination, question papers are printed in the UK skills for the workplace as it will mean a faster airports in Europe. Unfortunately, the eruption under secure conditions. This process is an essential turnaround of results. coincided with CIE’s time-sensitive despatch of part of protecting the integrity and validity of CIE’s confidential question papers to schools in no fewer assessments. BULATS is designed for companies and than 160 countries. individuals who need a rapid, accurate means Although CIE has emergency procedures to enable of assessing language skills for recruitment, After leaving Cambridge, many of the question papers small numbers of schools to print question papers training, benchmarking and staff development. became ‘stuck’ in the UK, with no flights available to locally under secure conditions, this becomes It is a multilingual system, available in English, air freight them out of the country. The scale of the impractical for larger centres with several thousand French, German and Spanish. This enables problem grew when airports in key transit locations students – and impossible when a volcanic eruption multinational businesses to establish the same closed throughout Europe. delays despatches to all centres. standards for language proficiency across their entire organisation. The flight ban presented a massive logistical problem All available contingency plans were put into for CIE. Question papers for candidates in Bahrain action, including emergency reprints of papers that BULATS was developed and is jointly run alone weighed over 4 tonnes. Another big CIE had become hopelessly entangled in the growing by Cambridge ESOL, the Alliance Française customer, Pakistan, required the despatch of 37 pallet backlog. Eventually, and fortunately, Eyjafjallajokull’s (France), Goethe-Institut (Germany) and the loads of question papers from the UK. The original eruptions slowed enough to allow airports to reopen. Universidad de Salamanca (Spain) in more than fall-back plan was to hire four lorries to deliver them CIE was delighted to report that all schools received 30 countries. by road to Pakistan via Madrid but news of a 10-mile their question papers in time for the scheduled tailback in Madrid meant that had to be dropped. examinations – although anecdotal feedback Instead Athens – where flights were running – was suggested that the students weren’t quite so pleased! chosen as an alternative transport hub.

Please feel free to phone, write or email Cambridge IGCSE International Mathematics has proved to be a runaway success at any time: with schools worldwide.

Bene’t Steinberg or Rebecca Birkett-Smith Although one of the newest Cambridge IGCSE Cambridge International Mathematics reflects Public Affairs qualifications from CIE, it has already been enthusiastically the way today’s students like to learn: they will 1 Regent Street adopted by 45 schools in more than 30 countries despite acquire a solid foundation of mathematical skills only being launched last year. As a result, the IGCSE will and learn how to develop strategies for solving Cambridge be included in this year’s November examination session. open-ended problems. The course also allows CB2 1GG students to develop and sharpen their investigation Developed for international schools, the new maths and modelling skills, and introduces them to the Tel: +44 (0)1223 556018 (direct) syllabus complements the International Baccalaureate use of graphical calculators − a necessary part of [email protected] IB curriculum, offering an assessment and certification the IB Diploma. at the end of the Middle Years Programme.

Sharing expertise over the border

Following the British general election, school reform is on the agenda in England – but in other parts of the UK it is business as usual.

That is because education policy is a matter that is Robin Hughes, OCR’s National Manager in Wales, Cambridge Assessment is the brand name of devolved to the national governments of Scotland, said: “Getting a dialogue going between us and the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Northern Ireland and Wales. the policy-makers is a good thing. The Welsh Syndicate, a department of the University Assembly has fixed terms, so everybody knows of Cambridge. Cambridge Assessment is a Since the Welsh Assembly gained powers over that there will be an election in May 2011. I hope education, almost a decade ago, the school curriculum our conversations will inform the discussions that not-for-profit organisation. and assessment has become increasingly distinctive. Assembly members have as they shape up their © 2010 University of Cambridge Local Among the most significant have been the expansion Welsh manifesto commitments.” of vocational learning for 14–19 year olds and the Examinations Syndicate launch of the Welsh Baccalaureate. OCR has had an office in Wales since 1994 and is working with providers and stakeholders to As experts in assessment, Cambridge Assessment and increase the range of assessment that is available Photography: Corbis Images, courtesy of Air France its UK exam board OCR, has been engaging with the for learners in Wales, including assessment in the Design: H2 Associates, Cambridge elected representatives in the Assembly to discuss the medium of Welsh. OCR supports over 400 learning present and future direction of education policy. organisations throughout Wales and delivers over 100,000 OCR qualifications every year to learners *7433537748* Among the matters discussed was the opportunity for of all ages. OCR to offer accreditation of the Welsh Baccalaureate.