Podcast released exploring all things assessment in time for A-level results day

To mark A-level results day tomorrow, the Department of Education has released a podcast which explores the assessment system and A-Level grading.

The podcast, which is part of a series by the Oxford Education Deanery, features Associate Professor of Educational Assessment Michelle Meadows, who is now an academic at the Department and previously was Deputy Chief Regulator at Ofqual, and Religious Studies teacher, Jonny Tridgell.

Senior Departmental Lecturer, Hamish Chalmers, who is co-Director of the Oxford Education Deanery is interviewing.

Hamish said: “A-level results day is a hugely impactful day in the life of anyone who is hoping to go to university. I remember the day well myself – collecting the manila envelope and then walking around the city centre for a couple of hours plucking up the courage to open it.

“In this podcast we explore some of the burning questions around A-level assessment – are grade boundaries for different subjects set differently? If I have an identified educational need is this taken into account? How are grade boundaries achieved?

“We wanted to explore some of these questions and demystify some of the unknowns for people. Jonny gives us an on-the-ground perspective of what it’s like to be a teacher, supporting students through achieving qualifications. Michelle explains to us how the process works behind the scenes and the mechanisms for assessment.

“Hopefully the podcast can give clarity to teachers, parents and students and, of course, we wish students the very best of luck with their A-level results.”

The Oxford Education Deanery is based at the Department of Education and empowers educators worldwide to understand, use, and co-produce high-quality research evidence in education.

They offer training top-ups, a range of short courses, and events for professionals and educators looking to engage with Oxford’s world-leading research, and each other.

Find out more about the Oxford Education Deanery on the Department’s website: Oxford Education Deanery – Department of Education

To listen to this podcast, and any from the Deanery Digest series, go to the University of Oxford’s podcast page: Deanery Digests | University of Oxford Podcasts

Or listen to more from the Department of Education: https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/units/department-education