Tag Archives: HM Government

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News story: Call for evidence: teacher involvement in developing exam papers

Please contribute your views to Ofqual’s review by 31 October 2017.

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If you use assistive technology (such as a screen reader) and need a version of this document in a more accessible format, please email publications@ofqual.gov.uk. Please tell us what format you need. It will help us if you say what assistive technology you use.

We are conducting a review into current teachers being involved in the development of exams, such as writing papers or questions.

As part of this review we would like to hear from anyone who has relevant insights or experiences to share – your response will be treated in confidence.

We particularly wish to hear from people who:

  • have been involved with developing exam materials
  • have taught alongside colleagues who had access to confidential assessment materials before the exams were taken
  • were taught by teachers who knew, or said they knew, what was going to be included in specific exams

We would particularly like to hear your views on:

  • the relative benefits and risks of teacher involvement in developing exams for qualifications they teach
  • the effectiveness of the safeguards used to prevent disclosure
  • the ability of a teacher who knows the content of an exam to disregard that when preparing their students for the same exam
  • how current safeguards could be strengthened

We would also like to hear from you if you have insights into, or experiences from, other sectors and/or other countries that you believe would be relevant to our review.

All information submitted in response to this call for evidence will be used only to inform our review. We will not investigate any specific complaints or allegations you raise. If you want us to look into a specific incident you should provide us with details using our normal complaints or whistle-blower procedures.

The closing date for this call for evidence is 31 October 2017 at 5pm.

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HM Government

Press release: IPO launch new IP resources for universities and colleges

This week saw the launch of a suite of new tools developed by the Intellectual Property Office (IPO). The new toolkit will help students, teachers and lecturers explore the relevance of IP in their lives and future careers.

The Future Innovators Toolkit (FIT) provides Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) teachers with the resources they need to introduce IP at any point in the curriculum.

Focussing on developing enterprise and employability skills, FIT consists of lesson plans, case studies, research scenarios and PowerPoint slides. These resources raise understanding of managing and exploiting IP and prepare STEM students for Higher Education or their careers.

IP Tutor Plus has also been launched to support university lecturers and deliver consistent messaging on IP. IP Tutor Plus explains what IP is and how it fits into their students’ future careers. It includes slides, lecture notes, FAQs, case studies and wider talking points. The Law, Business & Accounting module is currently available. The Creative, Humanities and STEM modules are coming soon.

The IPO recently launched IP for Research for PhD students and researchers to understand the importance of IP in maximising the impact of their research. The IP for Research programme includes 6 quick guides on the commercialisation process, face-to-face workshops and an IP skills lens.

With IP Tutor, Intellectual Asset Management Guide for Universities and Lambert Toolkit already supporting students, management and collaborations. These new tools complete the comprehensive support for students, lecturers and researchers.

Future Innovators Toolkit, IP Tutor Plus and IP for Research are all available on the Cracking Ideas portal.

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HM Government

Press release: National Justice Museum drives forward Public Legal Education

Solicitor General Robert Buckland QC MP is in Nottingham today where he will visit the recently reopened National Justice Museum to see how it is helping to educate people about the law.

The Solicitor will observe students taking part in a debate about whether capital punishment should be reintroduced in the UK, and he will also participate in a mock trial on gang violence with students from Nottingham University.

The Museum has devised a program of interactive activities to teach people about the law in an interesting and enjoyable way. Aligned to the national curriculum, the sessions use authentic courtrooms, museum spaces, objects and archives to help pupils gain a practical understanding of the law and justice system

The Solicitor General, Robert Buckland, QC MP said:

Gaining an understanding about how our legal system works and our rights and responsibilities within it is a valuable skill that we can use throughout our lives.

Public legal education gives everyone the opportunity to develop an understanding of the law. Not only does it have a practical and beneficial effect on people’s lives, but also it has a positive effect on our legal system as well. That is why these sessions are so important.

I am really pleased to be visiting the National Justice Museum in Nottingham to see its work in action.

Tim Desmond, Chief Executive, National Justice Museum said:

We are delighted to welcome the Solicitor General to the newly refurbished National Justice Museum, he is a great champion of Public Legal Education and as part of his visit he will have the opportunity to take part in a ‘Gang Violence Trial’ courtroom workshop with students from Nottingham University.

The Solicitor General will also visit the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) East Midlands office where he will commend the Area for its work in tackling serious crime.

The CPS Area’s rape and serious sexual offences team has sustained significant success over recent years, and had the highest conviction for rape in the country, at 64.6% and the third highest conviction rate for all sexual offences. Recent figures show that recorded crime has dropped by 12% in the East Midlands.

The Area covers five police force areas: Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire.

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HM Government