GovWire

Dr Jo Saxton, Chief Regulator, referred to recently-conducted polling about perceptions of on-screen assessment during her Wellington Festival of Education speech on 6 July 2023. The polling questions related to Dr Saxtons speech are available to download.

Two audiences were asked about their attitudes towards and perceptions of digital assessments, including the delivery of GCSEs and A levels on-screen. JL Partners conducted the polling on behalf of Ofqual between 23 February and 7 March 2023. The polling was based on representative samples of 500 parents of 15 to 18 year olds working towards GCSEs or A levels, and 516 students aged 15 to 18 working towards GCSEs or A levels.

Listening to all those who take, use and rely on qualifications is key to helping Ofqual target its work and to inform decision making. We need to hear students and apprentices views, concerns and ideas to place their interests at the heart of our work.

This polling forms part of a wider research project led by Ofqual examining students, parents and other qualification users perceptions of the benefits, challenges and risks of taking high-stakes assessments on-screen. Ofqual would like to gain a greater understanding of stakeholders levels of appetite for on-screen, high-stakes assessment and their concerns about any possible futuretransition from pen-and-paper to more computer-based examinations.

Next steps include speaking to parents and students with different needs and those taking other types of qualifications. Findings will help inform any regulatory approaches Ofqual may adopt in the future and we aim to publish findings from the perceptions research later in the year.