Sir,
Recently, a small number of people and groups have agitated for “radical” assessment reform across various media, including in the national press. One notable group, the Independent Assessment Commission (IAC) has been formed by the largest teaching union, the NEU, in the midst of the instability that Covid has brought to schools.
These calls are untimely, opportunistic and wrong. As teachers, our experience of the instability of this past 18 months and the insecurity of the next academic year means that we need and crave normality. The rapid and under-resourced adaptation to new ways of working, including changing assessments mean the profession is on its knees.
The last thing we need is an overhaul to exams and the additional workload that brings. Our pupils, their families, and our colleagues need to be able to get back to some stability in schools, and this includes getting back to the certainty and fairness of the type of assessment that we had pre-pandemic.
All talk of exam and assessment reform is hugely unsettling, thinking that the rug may be pulled out from under us again. We are not against discussion of exam and assessment reform, but these advocates should try to be a little more responsible in the timing of their campaigns. Please allow us to get through the next 18 months and give us time before proposing such destabilising measures.
Yours,
Mark Adams, Deputy Head
Dr Ruth Adams, Head of Science
Mr O. Aksoy, Teacher of Science
Isaac Alabi, Deputy Headteacher
Claudia Allan, Teacher of Chemistry
Deborah Allen, Deputy Headteacher
Liisa ap Hywel, Teacher
Mr A. Alonzi, Head of Mathematics
Diane Asensio MCCT, Teacher
Nathalie Audouin-Leighton, Head of Maths
Harry Backhouse, Head of English
Nicola Bailey, Deputy Head of Science
Dr Anne Baird, Head of Science
Carolyn Baker, Second in Science
Fiona Ballinger, Head of Science
Miss Thandiwe Banda, Head of Science
Sarah Barker FCCT, Teacher of English
M. A. Barlow, SLT/Teacher
Mrs Lyndsay Bawden FCCT, Trust-wide Subject Lead
Jo Benjamin, Head of Physics
Matthew Benyohai, Head of Physics
Gordon Birch, Assistant Headteacher
Emily Bird, Head of Science
Daniel Blakemore, Vice Principal
David Boggitt, Deputy Head (Academic)
Dale Bowes, Trainee Teacher of Geography
Adam Boxer, Head of Science
Mr M. Bracewell MCCT, Teacher of Mathematics
Anthony Braddick-Southgate, Teacher of Philosophy, Religion and Ethics
Jason Brand, Assistant Principal
Charlotte Brooks, Teacher of History
Mrs Ruth Brown, Lead Practitioner
Rebeka Brumby, Assistant Headteacher/Teacher of Science
Yvonne Bryan, Teacher of Science
I. Buckles, Head of Maths
Daniel Bundred, English Key Stage 5 Coordinator
Matt Burnage, Assistant Principal
H. Burr, Teacher of English
Martin Busse, Teacher
Nikki Carlin MCCT, Director of English
Dr Jo Castelino, Teacher of Science
David Chart, Head of Maths and Assistant Headteacher
Judith Chipp MCCT, Head of Science
Alex Clemens, Teacher of Mathematics
Kim Constable, Teacher of Social Sciences
Angela Cooper, Teacher of Science
Paul Cornish, MAT CEO
D. Cox, Head of Subject
Michael Cox, Subject Leader for PE
Simon Cox, Assistant Headteacher
Peter Coyle, Assistant Headteacher
Louise Crascall, Teacher of Science
Adam Creen, Head of Maths
Janet Criddle, Head of Science
Graeme Cronin, Teacher
E. Cunningham, Assistant Headteacher/Teacher of English
Chris Curtis, Head of English
Wedyan Dannan, Head of Sciences Faculty
Carla Da Silva, Deputy Head of English
Lauren Dauny, Teacher of Science
Richard Dare, Teacher of Maths
Lisa Davies, Deputy Headteacher
Bryn Davis, Head of English
Mr Shivan Davis, Teacher of English
Dan Dean, Deputy Headteacher
Sean Delahoy, School Improvement Lead
David del Strother, Teacher of Mathematics
Laura Denton, Science ECT
David Didau, Senior Lead Practitioner for English
Dr Philip Dixon MA (Oxon), PhD (Cantab), Director (2005-16), ATL Wales
J. Doherty, Teacher
Ann Donaghy, Headteacher
Samantha Duffy, Teacher of English
Diane Duncan, Head of English
Megan Dunsby, Associate Headteacher
Peter Edmunds, Head of Physics
Steve Ellis, Learning Team Coordinator and SEND Teacher
Zoe Enser FCCT, Advisor
Lewis Evans MCCT, Teacher oF Physics
Matthew Evans, Headteacher
Mr Louis Everett, Vice Principal
Mr S. Fancett, Teacher of Mathematics
Chris Farman, Teacher
Lewis Fenn Griffin, Deputy Headteacher
Dr Angus Ferraro, Teacher of Science
Amy Forrester, Director of Behaviour/Teacher of English
Jo Fox, Deputy Headteacher
S. R. Fraczek, Second in English
Mr David Fugill, Vice Principal (Curriculum and Assessment)
Oliver Garchy, History Teacher
Hannah Gibbons, Teacher of English
Chris Glover, Assistant Headteacher
Mr David Hugh Goater, Teacher of Maths
Dr Lucie Golton MEd EdD, Curriculum Leader of Science
David Goodman MCCT, Teacher of Science
Adrian H. L. Gould, Teacher of Science and Lead Practitioner
Fay Guest, Teacher
Megan Guinan, Head of Maths
Thomas Grafton Schlanker, Head of Science
Aislinn Green, Teacher of Science
Philip Gregory, Assistant Headteacher (KS4)
Beth Greville-Giddings, Learning and Development Lead
Mrs R. Griffiths, Acting Headteacher
Matthew Gundry M.Sci, Head of Chemistry
Donal Hale, Head of English
Alex Hall, Head of Humanities
Grainne Hallahan, Former Teacher
Mrs S. Hammerton, Teacher of Science
James Handscombe, Principal
James Harding-Mbogo, Vice Principal
Alan Harrison MBCS MCCT, Head of Computing
Jon Harrison, Teacher of Geography
Louise Harrison, Teacher
Kate Hart, Teacher of Maths
Cary Harwood, Teacher of Science
Luke Hashman, Teacher of MFL
Laura Headley, Teacher of English
Dr Carl Hendrick, Teacher of English
Iain Herries, Teacher of Chemistry
Jane Herron, Vice Principal
Abi Hewson, Second in English
Clive Hill MCCT, Lead Teacher
Lee Hill, Assistant Vice Principal
Paul Hillman, Teacher
Miss Z. Hitchens, Assistant Headteacher
J. Hoare, Head of English
Dr Michael Hobbiss, Head of Psychology
Tom Hopkins Burke, Teacher of History
Maria Howard, Head of English
Stacy Howe, Assistant Headteacher
S. Humble, Teacher of Geography and Geology
Sarah Hunt, Head of English
Mrs V. Hunt, History Teacher
Jude Hunton, Headteacher
Billy Hutty, Director of Mathematics
Ramona Ianc, Teacher of Science
Sylvie Jacquemart, Head of MFL
Craig Jeavons, Assistant Head (Academic)
Wayne Jenkins, Headteacher
Grace Johnston, Head of English
J. Jones, Teacher of English
Pete Jones, Assistant Headteacher
Rupinder Judge, SLE Teacher of Maths
Susan Kent, Head of Subject
Aaron Kerrigan, Head of English
Ahmed Khattab, Teacher of Science
Melanie King, Teacher of English
Morgane Kingsbury, Head of MFL
Joe Kinnaird, Head of KS3 RE
Catherine Knowles, Teacher of English
Jasmine Lane, Teacher of English
Rachel Latham, Head of Maths
Andrew Lay, Head of Economics
Peter Lee, Teacher of Science
Sam Lee, Teacher of English
Andy Lewis, Deputy Headteacher
David Liebeschuetz, Head of Science
P. Lindsay-Addy, Teacher
Jonathan Lineham MCCT, Deputy Head of Science
Joanne Lloyd, Headteacher
Catherine Lock, Director of Education
Stuart Lock, Chief Executive
Louisa Loney MCCT, Assistant Principal
Matt Lynch, Teacher of English
Rebecca Lynch, Lead Practitioner of Mathematics
Mr B. P. Mansbridge MMath, Teacher of Mathematics
Dr E. Manson-Whitton, Teacher of Science
Leighton Martin, Director of Drama
Natalie Masala, Head of English
John Matthews, Teacher
W. Matthews, Senior Leader
Andrei Matyas, Teacher of Science
Mr R. Mawhinney, Teacher of Computer Science
Craig McAllister, Teacher of English
Helen McAllister, Teacher
Dr G. T. McCormick, Head of Classics
Vera McCoy, Head of Languages
Paul McDaid, Head of Physics
Richard McDonald MCCT, Director of English and Trust English Lead
Mrs S. V. McDougall, Head of Chemistry
C. McHarg, Teacher of Mathematics
Dr Robert J. Milburn, Teacher of Physics and Mathematics
L. Miller, Teacher of English
Guyan Mitra, Teacher of English
Jacqui Moller-Butcher, Head of English
Elizabeth Moran, Lead Practitioner of English
Robert Morga, Teacher of Science
S. Morris, Teacher
Jonathan Mountstevens, Deputy Headteacher
Christopher Morrison, Director of Learning
Melanie Muldowney, Teacher
Michael Muralee, Teacher of English
Dianne Murphy, Director, Thinking Reading
Louise Murphy, Teacher of English
Tim Mycock MCCT, Teacher of Chemistry
Jonathan Nassau, Head of History
Ms R. Naylor, Teacher
Miss G. M. Nelson, Teacher of English
Mrs E. Nicholson, Teacher of Science
J. Nixon, Teacher
Cameron Nixson-Engel, Teacher of Science
Dr Karen Oates MRSC MCCT, Teacher of KS4 Science and KS5 Chemistry
Deborah O’Connor, Deputy Headteacher
Karen O’Connor LLB (Hons) PGDipEd MA MCCT, Teacher of History
Lisa O’Connor, Head of Quality
Richard O’Driscoll, Head of Year, Joint Head of Department
Daniel Opoku, Vice Principal
Fionn O’Sullivan, Teacher of Physics
Dr Sarah Pannell, Head of Biology
Jon Palmer, Head of KS3 English
Tim Paramour, Director of Studies
Zoe Paramour, Assistant Headteacher
Cathryn Parkes, Assistant Head of Communications
Sam Parslow, Teacher
Jonathan Payne, Teacher
Jonathan Peel, Teacher of English
Andrew Percival, Deputy Headteacher
Christina Percy MCCT, Head of Faculty
Robert Pierpoint, Second in Department – English
Harry Pike, Head of Department
Miguel Pimentel, Teacher of Mathematics
Ms Hannah Pinkham, Trust Assistant Principal
A. Plant, Deputy Head of Maths
Simone Pope, Teacher of English
Adam J. Porter MCCT, Teacher of MFL
Jamie Pout, Head of Physics
Adam Preocanin MCCT, Teacher of PE and Science
Bob Pritchard FCCT, Lead Practitioner of Science
Hywel Pugh, Head of Maths
Mrs D. L. Read, Head of English
Phil Reason, Teacher of Science
Michelle Reeves, Teacher of English
Adam Rickard, Teacher of Computing
Catherine Rogan, Teacher of English
Dr Nichola Rorke, Head of Chemistry
Rachel Rossiter, Teacher and Assistant Headteacher
Stephen Ruddock, Teacher of Humanities
Mr Barry Runham, Teacher of Maths
Mary Rugman, Teacher of English
Clare Sarson MCCT, Teacher of English
Lior Sayada, Teacher of Physics
Roque Segade Vieito, Assistant Director
Dr Michael Selig, Maths Teacher/UCAS Coordinator
Farhan Shah, Teacher of Computer Science
Anthony Shaw, Head of Maths
Jonathan Shaw, Teacher of Physics
Veronica Shelley, Assistant Headteacher
Mark Shepstone, Assistant Headteacher (Curriculum)
Jemma Sherwood, Senior Lead Practitioner of Mathematics
Jonathan Shields, Teacher
Helen Skelton, Head of Science
Julia Slade, Principal Teacher of English
Michael Slavinsky, Head of Sixth Form
Andrew Smith, Teacher of Mathematics
Mr Daniel Smith, Teacher of English
Dr M. Smith, Deputy Principal
Sarah Smith, Teacher of Chemistry
C. Smy, Teacher of Mathematics and Director of e-learning
Mrs Louise Snape, Head of Biology
Nichola Sollars, Teacher of Science
Deborah Stanley, Headteacher
Ashleigh Steane, Head of English
E. Stevens, Head of A Level Mathematics and Further Mathematics
Susan Strachan, Head of English and Drama
Laura Tamizian, Head of History and Politics
Jenny Taylor, Teacher of PSHE
Joshua Taylor, Teacher
James Theobald, Teacher of English
Josh Thomas, Assistant Head of Science
Katie Thomas, Assistant Headteacher
Matthew Thompson, Assistant Headteacher
Mrs K. Tilley, Acting Head of Science
Francesca Timms, Teacher of Biology
Robbie Todd, Curriculum Director of Humanities
Dominic Tones, Head of Science
Patrick Vis, Teacher
Karen Walker, Teacher and Private Tutor
Mr R. Walker, Teacher of Biology
Annabel Walley, Second in MFL
Ben Ward, Senior Assistant Headteacher
Richard Warren, English Teacher
A. Watts, Head of Science
Mrs Watts, Teacher of Mathematics
E. Weeks, Teacher
Chris White, Head of Maths
Emma White, Teacher of English
Nicky G. White, Assistant SENDCO
A. Whittle, Teacher of Mathematics
Cathy Williams, Assistant Headteacher
Dr Emma C. Williams FCCT, Teacher of Latin
Helen Willis, Head of Science
Olivia Wilson, Teacher of Maths
Douglas Wise, Assistant Headteacher
Becky Wood, Lead Practitioner in English/Teaching and Learning
Benjamin Wood FCCT, Head of RS
Nick Wood MCCT, Assistant Headteacher
Tom Worrall, Director of Music
Mr Tom Woudhuysen, Assistant Headteacher
Alex Wright, Lead Practitioner
Clive Wright, Headteacher
Sarah Wright, Lead Teacher of Science
Mason Yousif, Teacher of Science
Georgie Zervudachi MCCT, Teacher of English