- Opinion
Welcoming the New Direction: RM Compare at the Heart of Skills-Based Assessment
The announcement that the 50% university participation target will be scrapped marks a major turning point in English education policy. As the focus shifts from traditional academic pathways to a broader, skills-driven vision, opportunities open up for learners, educators, and providers to rethink what success truly means in a rapidly changing world.
At RM Compare, we’re excited to welcome this new direction. The Labour government’s plans for two-thirds of young people to achieve higher-level skills reflects a long-overdue recognition of vocational learning, practical expertise, and alternative qualifications. Across further education, apprenticeships, and technical routes, authentic and fair assessment is more important than ever.
Adaptive Comparative Judgement: Pioneering Fair, Holistic Assessment
In this new skills-first landscape, RM Compare’s Adaptive Comparative Judgement approach stands out as a pioneering solution. Our technology enables institutions to evaluate creative and practical work, professional competencies, and project-based artefacts with nuance, rigour, and transparency. Whether in colleges, apprenticeship programmes, or innovative qualification bodies, RM Compare supports holistic assessment—helping educators define, share, and uphold standards of excellence.
Empowering Evaluative Judgement in the Age of AI
As artificial intelligence becomes integral to teaching, learning, and working, evaluative judgement—the ability to discern what “good” looks like—is fast becoming the skill that drives lifelong success. RM Compare sits at the intersection of technology and professional judgment, using the wisdom of crowds, expert moderation, and adaptive algorithms to foster deep, meaningful learning experiences.
Shaping the Future Together
The policy shift invites everyone to reimagine what achievement and progression can mean. For post-16 providers, assessment bodies, and employers, RM Compare offers a powerful platform for fair selection, continuous development, and cross-sector collaboration. As the doors open to new pathways, we’re proud to help define, assess, and celebrate the wider achievements that underpin economic growth and individual aspiration.
This is an exciting moment for education in England. RM Compare is committed to enabling skills assessment that builds real capabilities, unlocks opportunity, and delivers excellence for all.