How RM Compare Empowers Schools to Meet the Government’s New Writing Framework

By Mark House

The Department for Education’s new writing framework sets a bold vision for primary education in England: build confident, fluent writers through sequenced, evidence-based teaching and assessment. As schools prepare to implement these changes, RM Compare offers a powerful, research-backed assessment platform that aligns with the framework’s principles and helps every pupil succeed.

The Writing Framework: Key Principles

The July 2025 writing framework emphasizes:

  • Fluency and Automaticity: Pupils must develop effortless handwriting and spelling to free up working memory for composition.
  • Sequenced, Explicit Teaching: Foundational skills come first—mastery of transcription and sentence construction before extended writing.
  • Oral Composition: Spoken language and oral sentence-building are the bedrock of written composition.
  • Early Identification and Support: Teachers should quickly spot and help pupils who struggle, including those with SEND.
  • Quality Over Quantity: Focus on writing quality, not just length or volume.
  • Formative Assessment: Assessment should inform teaching and learning, not just serve as a test preparation tool.
  • Consistency and Moderation: Shared understanding of standards and a well-sequenced curriculum are essential.
  • Motivation and Purpose: Pupils need real reasons to write, fostering confidence and engagement

How RM Compare Supports the New Framework

1. Holistic, Reliable Assessment

  • Adaptive Comparative Judgement (ACJ): RM Compare enables teachers to assess writing by comparing pairs of student work, focusing on overall quality, fluency, and composition—mirroring the framework’s holistic approach.
  • Capturing Nuance: ACJ excels at evaluating sentence structure, vocabulary, and creativity, supporting authentic assessment of what proficient writers can do.

2. Early Identification and Targeted Support

  • Efficient Ranking: The platform rapidly highlights pupils who need extra help, enabling timely intervention and supporting the framework’s call for early support.
  • Diagnostic Insight: Teachers gain clear visibility into strengths and weaknesses, allowing for tailored feedback and instruction.

3. Consistency, Moderation, and Professional Development

  • Aggregated Judgements: By combining multiple teachers’ professional opinions, RM Compare ensures consistent standards across classes and schools.
  • Collaborative Moderation: The platform fosters professional dialogue and shared understanding of standards—vital for leadership and curriculum development.

4. Reducing Assessment Bias and Supporting Inclusion

  • Fairer Judgement: Comparative approaches reduce marking bias, ensuring fair recognition of strengths and needs, especially for disadvantaged pupils and those with SEND.
  • Accessibility: RM Compare’s flexible design supports a wide range of learners and can be adapted for additional needs.

5. Formative and Summative Use

  • Flexible Assessment: Use RM Compare for both formative (to inform teaching) and summative (to rank or grade) purposes, aligning with the framework’s focus on quality teaching over excessive test prep.

6. Alignment with the Writing Process and Curriculum

  • Focus on Quality: The system encourages attention to sentence mastery, vocabulary, and structure, as outlined in the framework’s guidance on composition and progression.
  • Whole-School Integration: RM Compare fits seamlessly into school-wide writing curricula and assessment routines, supporting leadership in building a writing culture.

Addressing Key Framework Sections

  • Transcription and Composition: RM Compare’s holistic approach ensures teachers can assess both technical accuracy and expressive quality.
  • Supporting Pupils Who Need the Most Support: The platform’s analytics help identify outliers and patterns, enabling targeted support for pupils with SEND or those falling behind.
  • Leadership and Management: RM Compare can be embedded in a school’s assessment strategy, supporting leaders in monitoring curriculum impact, moderating standards, and planning professional development

Conclusion

RM Compare provides a technology-enabled, research-backed assessment solution that directly supports the government’s new writing framework. By making assessment more reliable, efficient, and focused on the true quality of pupils’ writing, RM Compare helps schools turn policy into practice—and every pupil into a confident writer