National curriculum assessmentassessments: join our expert review panels
How to participate in review panels for developing the key stage 1 (KS1) and key stage 2 assessments(KS2) andtests, thephonics screening check and reception baseline assessment.assessment (RBA).
TheGet Standardsinvolved andin Testingsupporting Agencythe (STA)development isof invitingnational volunteerscurriculum toassessments participateby injoining teacherour panelexpert review panels. Your professional expertise and test/assessmentinsights reviewwill groupbe meetingsinstrumental toin provideshaping feedbackfuture ontest thecontent content,and wordingenhancing pupils’ test experiences nationwide - and layoutit’s ofa assessmentgreat materials,opportunity to ensureexpand appropriateness,your validity,CPD clarityportfolio.
STAWe isare anlooking executivefor agencyteachers ofand other education professionals to join our expert review panels. Review panellists are essential to ensure that the Departmentoptional forKS1 Educationtests, (DfE)statutory andKS2 istests, responsiblephonics forscreening developmentcheck ofand nationalRBA curriculumare assessmentsfair, (commonlyaccurate referredand toreflective asof SATs).current classroom practice.
The1. assessmentWhat is a review processpanellist
TheAs reviewa processpanellist, involvesyou independentwill qualityplay assurancea ofvital assessmentrole materials.in Itmaintaining isthe criticalquality toand the validity evidenceof thatnational supportscurriculum the assessments.
Questions andYour theirexperience markwill schemesprovide areinvaluable reviewedinsight throughoutthat thewill developmenthelp processensure inassessment acontent seriesis ofappropriate, externalaccessible panelsand torelevant.
What ensurewill theyyou assessdo
You thewill contentbe domaininvolved ofin thereviewing assessment appropriately.
Reviewsmaterials takefor placethe beforeoptional questionsKS1 aretests, trialledstatutory inKS2 schools,tests, tophonics reviewscreening check and commentRBA. onYour theirresponsibilities suitability,may identifyinclude:
- providing
possiblefeedbackissuesonandthesuggestappropriateness,improvements.difficultyAandfinalformatreviewoftakesassessmentplacequestions - ensuring
atendassessmentsofaccurately reflect thedevelopmentintendedprocess,curriculumtocontent - identifying
reviewanythepotentialsuitabilityfairnessofortheaccessibilityassessment.issues
WeAs anticipatea that panel membersmember, you will need to be available to review materials and/or attend meetings for approximately 2-42 to 4 days a year,year. dependingDepending on the review(s)panel theytype, arethis participatingmay in.
Teacherinclude panel
Thereviewing teachermaterials panelremotely givesor feedbackin on assessment materials.person.
PanellistsIf arewe askedask you to commentattend on:
howmeetings,thewequestionswillreflectreimbursecurrentyouclassroomforpracticewhetherreasonabletheexpensesmaterialsandarepayofeitherappropriateyourdifficultyschool forthesupplyagecovergrouporandyouattainmentdirectly.rangewhetherIfthewematerialsaskareyouatosuitablereviewassessmentmaterialsofintheadvance,contentwedomainwillofalsothepayassessmentyou a preparation fee.the“Gainingformat,andesigninsightandintolayouthowofthequestionsanytestsimprovementsarethatputwouldtogetherenablewasafascinating,fairerhavingassessmentTheadministeredteacherthepanelendisresultgivenmanyaccesstimes.toItthewasassessmentgreatmaterialsthatonsuchtheandayemphasisofisthenowmeetingplacedtoonreflectdiversitytheandexperienceinclusionofsoopeningthat thematerialstestsinareschoolreflectiveonofthealldaychildrentheandassessmenttheirislivedfirstexperiences.administered.Test/assessmentPersonally,reviewitgroupInwasadditionexciting tothetakepurposepartofin theteacherpanelpanel,at thetest/assessmentDfEreviewandgroupIisreallydesignedenjoyedprimarilythetodaygatherworkingfeedbackwithon:thecolleaguestechnicalfromaccuracyacrossofcontentsector.”whetherExpertthereviewcontentpanellist
You
domaincanreferencesfindaremoreaccurateinformation about the
complexitydifferentofpanelstheandconceptsassessmentbeingreviewassessedtheprocessesabilityinofsectionthe3.2.
questionsHow tobebecomemarkedaconsistently
Who can apply
TheWe test/assessmentneed reviewteachers groupand isother giveneducation accessprofessionals tofrom thea assessmentwide materialsrange aof weekschools beforeand thegeographical meetingareas, towho completerepresent anour advancediverse reviewsociety, ofto theform questions.our:
Inclusion
- teacher
review
Inclusionpanels, reviewswho alsofocus takeon placereal toworld lookclassroom atexperience theand accessibilityhow of the assessments andalign arewith undertakencurrent byteaching diversitypractices
Teacher panels are recruitedmade viaup aof DfEpractising framework,teachers whichand willthose bewho renewedhave fromleft 2024.the Invitationsprofession towithin tenderthe willlast be3 publishedyears, onto Contractsensure Finder.
Criteriarelevant forexperience reviewof panellists
Teachercurrent panelsteaching arepractise made– upin of:particular:
teachers who have experience of teaching the target age group for the assessment
English,Englishmathematicssciencemathematics subject coordinatorslead practitioners
senior leaders such as deputy headteachers
andor headteachersspecial educational needs co-ordinators
heads of year or key stage leads
heads of subject or subject leads
teacherswhohavelefttheprofessionwithinthelastthreeyears(practisingteachersorthosewhohaverecentlyretiredhavemoreexperienceofcurrentteachingpractise)
TheTest panels consist of individuals of differing experience, from differing school types and geographical
locations,assessment so that a range of views is gathered.
Test/assessment review groups are made up of:
subject specialists
local authority subject leads or advisors
multi-academy trust subject leads or advisors
educational consultants
experienced senior teachers, deputy headteachers
andordeputiesadvanced skills teachers
andor assessment leadsspecialist leaders of education
academics specialising in a relevant area of education or subject discipline
Initialinitial teacher training providers
RegisterHow yourto interest in becoming a panellist
apply
If you wouldare be interested in taking part, please completesubmit thisyour details via our short expert review panel survey.
The survey will reopenbe open periodically afterand theshould currenttake surveyyou closes.less Youthan can5 signminutes upto forcomplete.
What assessmenthappens updatesnext
Please tonote ensurethat submitting your details does not guarantee a place, and you receivemay thenot latesthear information.back from us for a while.
How
We regularly review the expertfull reviewlist panellistsof aresubmissions selected
Theand surveymake willselections askthroughout youthe year to provideensure informationour aboutpanels yourare professionaldiverse expertise and experience,cover gender,all ethnicitythe andrequired geographicalareas location.of expertise. This enablesmeans STAthat towe ensuremay thatcontact thecandidates panelswith areopportunities representativevery soon, or at any time within 5 years of ourtheir diverseapplication.
If society,you asare farselected, aswe iswill:
- send
possibleyouwithina formal invitation to attend asmallpanelgroup.meeting - provide
Dependingyouonwithyourclearprofessionalguidanceexpertiseaboutandtheexperience,panel’sSTApurpose,willscopeallocateand desired outcomes - ask you to
thesignappropriateapanel.confidentiality agreement to protect sensitive information
AsIf you are unable to participate in a specific review, you will remain on our database for potential future opportunities – we will selectsecurely participantsstore fromyour thedetails longfor list5 ofyears. everyoneHowever, whoyou submitscan theirask us to change or remove your details viaat ourany survey,time.
You registeringcan find more information about how we use your interestpersonal doesdata notin guaranteethe aDepartment placefor onEducation’s personal ainformation panel.charter.
What3. happensThe nextassessment review process
IfThe selected,review youprocess willinvolves receiveindependent anquality emailassurance withof aassessment formalmaterials. invitationIt is critical to attendthe avalidity panel.evidence Thisthat willsupports includethe detailsassessments.
Questions and mark schemes are reviewed throughout the development process in a series of external panels to ensure they assess the meetingcontent location,domain dateof andthe time.assessment appropriately.
IfInitial youreviews aretake notplace availablebefore forquestions aare particulartrialled review,in youschools, mayto remainreview and comment on ourtheir databasesuitability, ifidentify youpossible wishissues and suggest improvements. A final review takes place at the end of the development process, to bereview includedthe insuitability futureof opportunities.the assessment.
Teacher panel
YourThe detailsteacher willpanel remaingives feedback on ourassessment databasematerials. We ask panellists to comment on:
- how the questions reflect current classroom practice
- whether the materials are of appropriate difficulty for
fivetheyears.ageYougroupcanandrequestattainmentthatrange - whether
yourthedetailsmaterials areremovedaorsuitableamendedassessmentatof the content domain of the assessment - the format, design and layout of questions
- any
time.improvements that would enable a fairer assessment
WeThe willteacher providepanel yougets withaccess guidanceto aboutthe assessment materials on the purposeday andof scopethe meeting, to reflect the experience of youropening the materials in school on the day the assessment is first administered.
Test and assessment review groups
The test and assessment review groups are designed primarily to gather feedback on:
- the
intendedtechnicaloutcomesaccuracy of themeeting.content - whether the content domain references are accurate
- the complexity of the concepts being assessed
- the ability of the questions to be marked consistently
SecurityEach isgroup ofgets criticalaccess importanceto duringthe assessment materials a week before the expertmeeting, to complete an advance review processof andthe allquestions.
4. thoseInclusion involvedreviews
Inclusion reviews are conducted to assess the accessibility of assessments. They are carried out by experienced diversity specialists and experts in the processeducation willof needpupils towith signspecial aeducational confidentialityneeds agreement.and English as an additional language.
STAWe willprocure reimbursethese panelspecialists membersthrough a Department for expenses,Education school(DfE) supplyframework. coverIf oryou meetingare attendanceinterested fees,in one of these roles, you can look out for upcoming opportunities on Contracts Finder and (forsign theup test/assessmentfor reviewour assessment group)updates to preparationensure work.you receive the latest information.
5. Further information
If you have any questions about becoming an expert review panellist, please contact contact STA.expert@education.gov.uk.
Further
Updates informationto onthis use of your data is available in our Privacy Notice.page
Last updated
-
Updated information on the application process and restructured the information on the page.
-
Removed deadline date as the survey will remain open to allow applications to be sent throughout the year.
Update history
2024-10-01 09:30
Added clarification that teachers who administer assessments at their school can still take part in expert review panels and continue to administer the assessments.
2024-09-16 09:30
Updated information on the application process and restructured the information on the page.
2022-09-29 16:18
Removed deadline date as the survey will remain open to allow applications to be sent throughout the year.
2022-09-06 10:30
First published.