A cross-party parliamentary group has launched an inquiry into the case for reforming school assessments, including GCSEs and Sats.
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for Schools, Learning and Assessment will look at the case for reform across post-16, GCSE, vocational qualifications and primary assessment.
It is the latest in a series of in-depth reviews into assessment reform by a range of groups in recent years, several of which call for scrapping exams.
The APPG is inviting evidence from all interested stakeholders and will be holding a series of open online evidence sessions to further explore the topic, scheduled as follows:
- Impact of current assessment system - 25 January, 4pm-5pm.
- What knowledge, skills and competencies will be most important for life and work in the 21st century, and how best can they be assessed - 28 February, 2pm-3pm.
- International perspectives on assessment - 22 March, 4pm-5pm
Following the inquiry, the APPG will produce a report at the end of the summer term that will outline the case for assessment reform and present recommendations for the government.
Flick Drummond MP, co-chair of the APPG, said: “I am very excited about this inquiry building on all the commissions that were published last year on assessment and the future of education.
“As we approach the next general election, this is an excellent opportunity to influence all parties’ manifestos and really make a difference to our young people.”
In recent years, the examination system as a method of assessment has come under increased scrutiny.
In August, a report from the Tony Blair Institute called for policymakers to scrap GCSEs on the grounds that “summative, closed-book exams at the end of five years of secondary learning are, on their own, a very poor way of measuring talent”.
A separate campaign was launched by state and private schools to end GCSEs, with former education secretary Lord Baker branding the qualifications as being based on an “Edwardian” curriculum.
And the group Rethinking Assessment also aims for radical reform of the qualifications.
However, a Tes survey last year found most teachers do not want exams to be scrapped altogether.
The Department for Education has been contacted for comment.
