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1 This is an attempt to establish pseudo examinations to con the public and satisfy the government. You would have hoped that there were people in Ofqual and the exam boards willing to stand up and refuse to play this daft game.
2 The pseudo papers will be supplied with a mark scheme which teachers will wrestle with (remember KS3 tests) and teachers will be advised by SLTs to use only the MS to make assessments because it is easier, safer etc.
3 There will be lots of spurious fudge about unseen, controlled assessments as if this will make the assessment 'better', not more valid or reliable of course. Despite this the papers and the MSS will be instantly in the public domain as will shared model answers.
4 Before you know it, teachers will be sending in a sample of their marked scripts to be moderated by the examining board on the basis of whatever but probably outcomes. So, posh schools will be expected to do well etcetera...
5 These will be high stakes assessments so teachers, parents , and candidates will do their best to achieve. The proposed grades will be too high for government to accept and Ofqual will be scared to submit them so the allegedly light touch external moderation will be heavy!
6 How to survive! Devise a worthwhile 'lockdown' extended task with a chance for students to show and reflect on what they know. Give them a window to complete this. Set up to three controlled assessments which can be tests of knowledge and application. These can be topic based.
7 Save all these as the evidence for your assessment of student performance across a range of tasks. Internally moderate with other staff and produce your marks or grades as required.
8 Job done. Your assessment is fairer and relevant and your students can show what they can do. If an examing board quibbles invite them to send an assessor to review your evidence. It will be more impressive than their marked papers.
9 Dont say anything about coursework or portfolios. Relax!
