Stuart is a Departmental Lecturer in Educational Assessment at the Department of Education.

Stuart has a PhD in Education from the University of Warwick. His research interests cover many aspects of educational assessment, including examination standards, the assessment of practical skills, the use of assistive technology for assessment, and the digitisation of assessment.

Prior to January 2022, Stuart was Associate Director for Research at Ofqual, where he helped lead a research programme to support the regulation of examinations and qualifications in England. He has held senior research roles both at Ofqual and at an examination board.

Publications

He, Q. & Cadwallader, S.M. (2022). An investigation of inter-subject comparability in GCSEs and A levels in summer 2021. Ofqual. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/an-investigation-of-inter-subject-comparability-in-gcses-and-a-levels-in-summer-2021  

Holmes, S., Brylka, A., Case, N., Clarke, L., Howard, E., Keys, E., Tonin D. Cadwallader S.M. (2022). Teacher Assessed Grades in summer 2021: Interviews. Ofqual. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/teacher-assessed-grades-in-summer-2022-interviews-and-surveys  

Cadwallader, S. M. & Tonin, D. (2021). The use of assistive technologies for assessment. Ofqual. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-use-of-assistive-technologies-for-assessment/the-use-of-assistive-technologies-for-assessment  

Lockyer, C. & Cadwallader, S.M. (2020). Internal assessment in existing national technical and vocational qualifications. Ofqual. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/863758/Internal_assessment_in_existing_national_technical_and_vocational_qualifications.pdf  

Cadwallader, S. M. (2019). The impact of qualification reform on A level science practical work. Paper 5: Final report on the pre- and post-reform evaluation of science practical skills. Ofqual. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-impact-of-qualification-reform-on-alevel-science-practical-work 

Cadwallader, S. M. (2018). The impact of qualification reform on A level science practical work. Paper 4: An analysis of the functioning of items that indirectly assess A level science practical skills. Ofqual. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-impact-of-qualification-reform-on-alevel-science-practical-work 

Cadwallader, S. M., Cuff, B. M. P & Khan, A. (2018). The impact of qualification reform on A level science practical work. Paper 3: Valid discrimination in the assessment of practical performance. Ofqual. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-impact-of-qualification-reform-on-alevel-science-practical-work 

Cadwallader, S. (2018). The impact of qualification reform on A level science practical work. Paper 2: Pre- and post-reform evaluation of science practical skills. Ofqual. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-impact-of-qualification-reform-on-alevel-science-practical-work 

Cadwallader, S. M. & Clinckemaillie, L. (2017). The impact of qualification reform on A level science practical work. Paper 1: Teacher perspectives after one year. Ofqual. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-impact-of-qualification-reform-on-alevel-science-practical-work 

Cadwallader, S. M. (2014). Developing grade descriptions for the new GCSEs: considerations and challenges. Manchester: AQA Centre for Education Research and Practice. https://www.aqa.org.uk/about-us/our-research/research-library/paper?path=developing-grade-descriptions-new-gcses-considerations-and-challenges  

Cadwallader, S. M. & Tremain, K. (2013). How policy formation and implementation interacts with risks to high stakes qualifications. Manchester: AQA Centre for Education Research and Practice. https://www.aqa.org.uk/about-us/our-research/research-library/paper?path=how-policy-formation-and-implementation-interacts-risks-high-stakes-qualifications

Selected Conferences

The assessment of behaviours in apprenticeship end point assessments. Tonin, D., Clarke, L. & Cadwallader, S.M. Association for Educational Assessment (AEA Europe) conference, Dublin (2022).

The use of remote invigilation – awarding organisation views on its introduction and impact. Cadwallader, S. M & Tonin, D. Association for Educational Assessment (AEA Europe) conference, online (2021).

Evaluating the impact of A level qualification reform on science practical skills. Cadwallader, S. M. Association for Educational Assessment (AEA Europe) conference, Lisbon (2019).

Valid discrimination in the assessment of practical skills. Cadwallader, S. M. Association for Educational Assessment (AEA Europe) conference, Prague (2017).

What is the meaning of a grade? Developing grade descriptors that are fit for purpose. Cadwallader, discussion group chaired at: Association for Educational Assessment (AEA Europe) conference, Tallinn (2014).

What should be keeping us up at night? Perspectives on the key threats to the general qualification system. Meadows, M.L. & Cadwallader, S.M. Cambridge Assessment Conference – Examining Risk, Cambridge (2012).

The Implicit Theories of Intelligence of Gifted and Talented Adolescents and how they Relate to Academic Goals and Achievement. Cadwallader, S. M. British Educational Research Association conference, Edinburgh (2008).

Funded Research Projects