Welcome to AQi
Bringing together research, insight and ideas on assessment, qualifications and curriculum
Stepping Stone: the future of the EBacc and student progression
Over a decade since its inception, AQi explores whether the EBacc curriculum is the right stepping stone to post-16 study and training for pupils in England.Read now
Making up an exam: How does a question paper get made?
With this year’s exam season kicking off, AQi explores the processes that help create the final exam papers that end up on students’ desks.
Computer science and on-screen assessment: Lessons for policymakers
Evaluating the barriers and benefits to on-screen assessment among AQA A-level Computer Science teachers.
A National Baccalaureate for England?
AQi looks at the National Baccalaureate Trust's recent proposals for introducing a national baccalaureate in England.
A post-16 perspective on the EBacc
Eddie Playfair, Association of Colleges, provides a personal view of the education system, informed by decades of teaching and advising post-16 students.
Bacc again: A policy briefing on baccalaureate curriculum models
What could a baccalaureate look like in England? AQi explores some of the options.
On-screen Assessment in England’s Exam System
Exploring what on-screen assessment could mean for GCSE and A-Level students in England.
What do teachers think of the EBacc?
Digging deeper into the views of secondary school teachers.
Careers advice: Why is it important and how to improve it?
AQi looks at a recent report on careers advice in England and explores the challenges and opportunities for helping students find their right track.
The role of assessment in meritocracy
A recent book on meritocracy highlights how it has always gone hand in hand with fair assessment.
OECD 2012-2015: Barriers to academic participation
What is stopping the working population from levelling-up?
Getting in and getting on: Encouraging students to aim high and succeed
Susie Whigham, CEO of The Brilliant Club, writes about supporting students to develop the skills and confidence to progress to university and succeed when they are there – crucial factors for social mobility.
OECD 2019: Employment rate by birthplace and prior attainment
Evaluating the interaction between birthplace and attainment on employment trajectories.
A New Era? NEU comments on the Independent Assessment Commission
The Independent Assessment Commission published its final report recently. Andy Case from the NEU explains their findings.
High speed internet in all schools? A key ingredient for on-screen assessment
The government has announced that every school in England will have access to high speed internet. What does this mean for on-screen assessment?
Open-book exams: what does the evidence say?
Amid debate around the merits of open-book exams, AQi examines some of the evidence.
OECD 2019: Tertiary graduates by field
Business ranks first, followed by Healthcare and Engineering.
The skills agenda: signs of what’s ahead
The progress of the Skills and Post-16 Education Bill through Parliament is yielding lively debate on the future of skills policy.
Can digital technology transform assessment practices?
The transformative power of digital technology in formative assessment
OECD 2021: 20-24 year olds not in Employment, Education or Training (NEET)
UK scores below the OECD average.
Time to rethink the use of tiering in GCSEs?
What do students feel about being split into tiers for their GCSEs? Dr Rhian Barrance summarises her recent research.
Stepping Stone: the future of the EBacc and student progression
Over a decade since its inception, AQi explores whether the EBacc curriculum is the right stepping stone to post-16 study and training for pupils in England.
OECD 2020: Gender Imbalances in Tertiary Education
How does the UK compare to other countries?
Economics: Where are all the girls?
What can we do about the gender imbalance in Economics?
Who is responsible for Digital Literacy?
With the rise of digital and on-screen assessment, how can students be prepared?
Levelling Up: Over two thirds of the UK population have completed post-16 qualifications
The UK ranks 8th, ahead of many other countries.
Levelling Up qualifications and assessment
What does the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper mean for qualifications and assessment?
How can History be made more diverse?
With growing scrutiny of history curricula, how can we make sure History doesn’t reinforce outdated views?
How Hard is it to Learn Soft Skills?
Everyone agrees that soft skills are important, but what is the best way to assess them?
Levelling Up the EBacc
A panel debate on the EBacc organised by AQi, the assessment and qualifications insight hub
The SAT Goes Digital – A Sign of Things to Come?
One of the most famous exams in the world is going digital.
Digital assessment: why we’re closer than we think
With continued technological development, it’s time to explore the potential of digital assessment in earnest.
Accessing the curriculum at home
What lessons are there from Covid-19 that could benefit home education in future?
What role is there for students in assessment and curriculum debate?
Should students and young people be involved in education debates? What value can they bring?
Which students take degrees they’re overqualified for?
Could some students be at a more selective university or on a more financially rewarding degree? Stuart Campbell and Gill Wyness, UCL Centre for Education Policy and Equalising Opportunities, explore.
The 1963 Newsom Report – Looking back, and to the future
The lessons of education policy past for the present day
Percentage of 2018/19 A-Level Entries graded A*-C by region
Further insight into the variation of A Level attainment by region
Learning Loss: What is the evidence for extending the School Day?
Amid debate about extending the school day to address Covid disruption, AQi looks at the evidence
Four key ingredients for a high-quality assessment
The top things to consider when writing assessments
Qualifications and Assessments 2021 – Year in Review
After a second summer of exam cancellations, AQi speaks with education leaders to review the year
Percentage of 2018/19 A-Level Entries graded A*-B by region
How does the percentage of A-Levels awarded A*-B vary by region?
The complex case of Post-Qualification Admissions
Is technology the key to unlocking ‘post qualification’ reform to university admissions?
How to ensure diversity in English Literature?
How can we achieve a truly diverse curriculum for students of English Literature?
Should students sit fewer GCSEs?
Amid debate about the 'right' number of GCSEs, AQi explores the pros and cons of sitting fewer GCSEs
Percentage of 2018/19 A-Level Entries graded A*-A by region
An oversight into the variation of A Level attainment by region
Young Peoples’ Mental Health: Seven Key Facts
Evaluating the link between mental health, Covid-19 and KS4 assessment
Provisional Entries into STEM A-Level Subjects, 2020/21
A regional comparison of differences in student uptake of STEM subjects based on 2020/21 provisional entries data
Four Key Facts for the new Social Mobility Commission
After two years of disruption to examinations, what does the new Social Mobility Commission need to know about qualifications?
What does levelling up mean for qualifications?
Jonathan Simons of Public First provides his view on the role of qualifications in the Government’s Levelling Up agenda
Comparable Outcomes: Setting the standard?
What is the comparable outcomes framework, how does it underpin grade standards and are there alternatives?
How do schools feel about digitising examinations?
Four school leaders give us their views
Accessible for All: How to make assessments fair?
Ruth Johnson, Senior Head of Assessment, examines the challenges in designing fair assessments and how we ensure the stories that assessments provide are the right ones
Digital Assessment Now: A case study
In one part of the UK, digital assessment of the core curriculum is a reality
Functional Skills Qualifications: The first decade
Ten years after they were launched, this briefing looks at the future of Functional Skills Qualifications and the levelling-up agenda
Time to top-up? Rethinking Maths and English after 16
When young people with reformed GCSEs in Maths and English enter the labour market, how much will they remember?
The Power of Public Education Data
Why Massachusetts makes its education data open to all
The theme to which all parties are finally turning their attention
Thoughts from Colin Hughes, AQA CEO, following the party conferences
Why teacher assessment needs to be carefully assessed
Tom Richmond of EDSK compares notes with the primary sector
Finland: Going against the global trend
The country's success in zigging while others zag poses tough questions
Differences by constituency of over 250% in GCSE Maths and English grade 5+results
A graphical demonstration of the educational challenges faced in levelling up
Could comparative judgement replace traditional exam marking?
There are rumblings of a revolution
Singapore: where is the poster child of global education heading now?
We look beyond the international league tables
Maths: the UK’s PISA score has risen significantly
Matching the level of Germany, Norway and Finland
Qualification reform in England since 1950
A blast through the past of assessment
258% – Significant differences in the GCSE Maths and English results by Local Education Authority
Explore the data for your LEA
Finland: Educating the whole child
Making equality of opportunity the defining objective of a nation's educational strategy
Science: ranked 14th by PISA, the UK is ahead of many European nations
Asian countries score most highly
Singapore: probably the best organised education system in the world
The city state takes a new direction
Talking to students about T-Levels
What will it take to give T-Levels momentum?
Reading: the UK’s PISA score is similar to the US and Australia
But behind Finland, Hong Kong and Singapore