‘Over time, some exams will move online’ – Ofqual chief

Head regulator cites importance of not rushing to use technology

Credit: Pixabay

The chief regulator of Ofqual has predicted that some exams will shortly begin moving to being delivered online.

Jo Saxton said that the biggest challenge facing the watchdog this year is that “time never stands still in the world of qualifications”. This could manifest in the organisation “looking at how to make sure vocational qualifications are genuinely treated in every respect as being on equal footing with A-Levels and GCSEs,” she added.

Another looming change that will occupy Ofqual in 2023 is “innovative new ways of students taking their exams, including the advent of moving – over time – to some exams online”, according to Saxton.

“We’re very much keen to see new innovations and new ways of doing things, and indeed there is some very exciting work going on in this space by some of the exam boards,” she said. “To my mind though, we need to make sure we don’t rush to new tech-based solutions without these being tested to destruction.

“And there are, of course, some things like handwriting, that must be preserved. Knowing what good classroom practice looks like is key to making sure that changes to how students are assessed doesn’t have negative unintended wash-back effects into teaching and learning. This will take time and we all need to have total confidence in any new approaches before we even make the first steps to implementing these across a system.”


Related content


The chief regulator – who was answering questions as part of the annual Perm Secs Round-Up published by PublicTechnology sister publication Civil Service World – added that the biggest challenge she had faced the past year was delivering the grading system for summer 2022 exams after two years of pandemic-related disturbance. This included the disastrous use of an algorithm to initially award grades to students sitting exams in summer 2020 – a year before Saxton took on the post of chief regulator.

“This was about balancing the need to recognise that young people up and down the country had experienced unprecedented disruption to their education over the past few years, with the need to get back to the tried, trusted and tested ‘normality’,” she said. “Striking this balance for me was all about fairness and doing the right thing for students. So, I decided grades should be broadly midway between the previous summer’s grades and pre-pandemic grades.”  

Saxton added: “This was so that we as a nation could take steps towards normality, but in the interests of students and recognising the immense challenge of what they had been through, not in one fell swoop. Whilst this sounds relatively simple to achieve, it was difficult to deliver technically. But I’m absolutely clear that it was the right decision – it simply would not have felt fair to students to have gone straight back to pre-pandemic grades immediately. We needed a glide path. I also set out a two-year trajectory; having understood that everyone – students especially – needed clarity and that being fair to them would be letting those starting two-year qualification courses know how they would be graded at the end.”

 

Sam Trendall

Learn More →

48 thoughts on “‘Over time, some exams will move online’ – Ofqual chief

  1. Jorgedak January 22, 2025 at 11:42 am

    mexican pharmaceuticals online: Mexican Easy Pharm – Mexican Easy Pharm

  2. Rodneyicems January 24, 2025 at 5:15 am

    mexican border pharmacies shipping to usa https://mexicaneasypharm.shop/# Mexican Easy Pharm
    mexico drug stores pharmacies

  3. Albertruith January 24, 2025 at 8:48 am

    http://kamapharm.com/# Kama Pharm
    prednisone 50 mg prices

  4. Albertruith January 24, 2025 at 1:26 pm

    https://predpharm.shop/# prednisone 5 mg tablet rx
    prednisone 10

  5. Albertruith January 24, 2025 at 6:22 pm

    https://dappharm.com/# DapPharm
    prednisone 20mg capsule

  6. Albertruith January 24, 2025 at 11:31 pm

    http://predpharm.com/# prednisone 10 mg daily
    prednisone 10 mg tablet cost

  7. Albertruith January 25, 2025 at 1:28 pm

    https://predpharm.com/# buy prednisone from india
    prednisone 7.5 mg

  8. Albertruith January 25, 2025 at 9:38 pm

    https://cytpharm.shop/# cytotec pills buy online
    prednisone 2.5 mg tab

  9. Albertruith January 27, 2025 at 4:55 pm

    https://cytpharm.shop/# buy cytotec over the counter
    prednisone 54899

  10. Albertruith January 27, 2025 at 10:24 pm

    https://semapharm24.com/# semaglutide tablets price
    buy prednisone online australia

  11. Albertruith January 28, 2025 at 4:22 am

    https://cytpharm.shop/# buy cytotec over the counter
    buy prednisone canadian pharmacy

  12. MichaelVon January 28, 2025 at 7:43 am

    https://farmasilditaly.shop/# pillole per erezione immediata
    farmacia online senza ricetta

  13. MichaelVon January 28, 2025 at 12:27 pm

    https://farmasilditaly.com/# siti sicuri per comprare viagra online
    Farmacie on line spedizione gratuita

  14. MichaelVon January 28, 2025 at 5:21 pm

    https://farmabrufen.com/# FarmaBrufen
    farmacie online autorizzate elenco

  15. MichaelVon January 28, 2025 at 10:12 pm

    http://farmasilditaly.com/# viagra prezzo farmacia 2023
    farmacia online senza ricetta

  16. MichaelVon January 29, 2025 at 2:50 am

    https://farmatadalitaly.com/# farmacie online affidabili
    acquisto farmaci con ricetta

  17. Bradleydug January 31, 2025 at 3:12 am

    kamagra senza ricetta in farmacia: alternativa al viagra senza ricetta in farmacia – miglior sito dove acquistare viagra
    farmaci senza ricetta elenco

  18. LannyRinly January 31, 2025 at 6:33 am

    The casino industry supports local economies significantly.: phmacao casino – phmacao com login

  19. Patrickbeisa January 31, 2025 at 10:40 am

    Live dealer games enhance the casino experience.: taya365 com login – taya365.art

  20. LannyRinly January 31, 2025 at 11:19 am

    Many casinos have beautiful ocean views.: taya365 – taya365.art

  21. Patrickbeisa January 31, 2025 at 3:38 pm

    La variedad de juegos es impresionante.: winchile casino – winchile.pro

  22. LannyRinly January 31, 2025 at 4:11 pm

    Los jugadores pueden disfrutar desde casa.: winchile casino – win chile

  23. Patrickbeisa January 31, 2025 at 8:33 pm

    Gambling regulations are strictly enforced in casinos.: phtaya – phtaya login

  24. LannyRinly January 31, 2025 at 9:03 pm

    Players enjoy both fun and excitement in casinos.: phtaya login – phtaya

  25. Josephbycle January 31, 2025 at 10:06 pm

    taya365 com login taya365 com login The casino industry supports local economies significantly.

  26. Patrickbeisa February 1, 2025 at 1:10 am

    Entertainment shows are common in casinos.: taya777 – taya777

  27. LannyRinly February 1, 2025 at 1:35 am

    Los croupiers son amables y profesionales.: jugabet chile – jugabet chile

  28. Patrickbeisa February 1, 2025 at 5:51 am

    Casino visits are a popular tourist attraction.: taya777 register login – taya777

  29. LannyRinly February 1, 2025 at 6:13 am

    The casino atmosphere is thrilling and energetic.: phmacao club – phmacao

  30. Patrickbeisa February 1, 2025 at 10:34 am

    The ambiance is designed to excite players.: phmacao com login – phmacao club

  31. LannyRinly February 1, 2025 at 10:54 am

    п»їLos casinos en Chile son muy populares.: jugabet – jugabet chile

  32. Patrickbeisa February 1, 2025 at 3:19 pm

    Los pagos son rГЎpidos y seguros.: jugabet casino – jugabet casino

  33. LannyRinly February 1, 2025 at 3:35 pm

    Las apuestas deportivas tambiГ©n son populares.: winchile – winchile.pro

  34. Patrickbeisa February 1, 2025 at 8:07 pm

    Many casinos host charity events and fundraisers.: phmacao – phmacao

  35. LannyRinly February 1, 2025 at 8:22 pm

    Los casinos reciben turistas de todo el mundo.: winchile.pro – winchile.pro

  36. Patrickbeisa February 2, 2025 at 1:02 am

    Los casinos son lugares de reuniГіn social.: jugabet chile – jugabet chile

  37. LannyRinly February 2, 2025 at 1:11 am

    The ambiance is designed to excite players.: phtaya – phtaya.tech

  38. LannyRinly February 2, 2025 at 6:26 am

    Las estrategias son clave en los juegos.: jugabet.xyz – jugabet

  39. Patrickbeisa February 2, 2025 at 6:32 am

    Players enjoy a variety of table games.: phmacao com – phmacao com login

  40. LannyRinly February 2, 2025 at 11:23 am

    The casino scene is constantly evolving.: taya365 com login – taya365.art

  41. Patrickbeisa February 2, 2025 at 11:49 am

    Entertainment shows are common in casinos.: taya777 – taya777 app

  42. LannyRinly February 2, 2025 at 4:15 pm

    La ruleta es un juego emocionante aquГ­.: jugabet chile – jugabet

  43. Patrickbeisa February 2, 2025 at 5:05 pm

    п»їLos casinos en Chile son muy populares.: winchile.pro – win chile

  44. Daviddof February 2, 2025 at 8:18 pm

    http://taya365.art/# Promotions are advertised through social media channels.
    The casino industry supports local economies significantly.

  45. LannyRinly February 2, 2025 at 9:16 pm

    The gaming floors are always bustling with excitement.: taya365 com login – taya365 login

  46. Patrickbeisa February 2, 2025 at 10:33 pm

    Manila is home to many large casinos.: taya365 login – taya365.art

  47. LannyRinly February 3, 2025 at 2:16 am

    Responsible gaming initiatives are promoted actively.: taya777 login – taya777 register login

  48. Patrickbeisa February 3, 2025 at 3:57 am

    Players can enjoy high-stakes betting options.: phtaya casino – phtaya login

Leave a Reply