Less is More: Adaptive Comparative Judgement and the Future of Assessment

On Monday I travelled to London to attend the regional roadshow for the ongoing DfE Curriculum and Assessment review. I was joined by over 150 others from across the sector to learn more about the review and to offer contributions to the ongoing work.

As we consider the review's objectives, it might finally be the right time to embrace a powerful yet simple approach: less is more.

Background

In March 2024, the Department for Education launched a comprehensive Curriculum and Assessment Review for England, led by Professor Becky Francis CBE. This wide-ranging review aims to ensure that the national curriculum and statutory assessment system are fit for purpose, meeting the needs of all children and young people from Key Stage 1 through to Key Stage 5. The review seeks to balance ambition, excellence, relevance, flexibility, and inclusivity, with a focus on creating a broader, richer curriculum that sets young people up for life and work

Some key areas where Adaptive Comparative Judgement might be able to contribute

ACJ strips assessment down to its essence: comparing two pieces of work and deciding which is better. This simple act, repeated across multiple comparisons, yields remarkably reliable results. By focusing on holistic judgments rather than detailed criteria, ACJ captures the nuances of student work that often elude traditional marking schemes.

Reducing Teacher Workload

One of the most significant benefits of ACJ is its efficiency. Teachers spend less time marking and more time teaching. The adaptive algorithm ensures that each comparison contributes meaningfully to the final ranking, eliminating wasted effort. This aligns with the review's consideration of the overall volume of assessment.

Broadening the Scope

Paradoxically, by simplifying the assessment process, ACJ allows for a broader evaluation of student abilities. It excels at assessing complex, cross-curricular work that doesn't fit neatly into predefined categories. This aligns with the review's aim to reflect the full breadth of the curriculum and ensure access to subjects like music, art, sport, drama, and vocational subjects

Enhancing Professional Development

ACJ turns assessment into a powerful learning experience for teachers. By comparing diverse examples of student work, teachers develop a deeper understanding of quality across different subjects and skills. This collaborative approach to assessment fosters professional growth with minimal additional time investment.

Empowering Students

When used for peer assessment, ACJ encourages students to think critically about quality. This simple act of comparison helps students develop evaluative expertise, a crucial skill for lifelong learning. By doing less (making simple comparisons) students gain more (deeper understanding), supporting the review's goal of ensuring children and young people leave compulsory education ready for life and work.

Flexibility and Inclusivity

The simplicity of ACJ makes it adaptable to a wide range of subjects and skills. This flexibility supports the review's goal of improving access to a broader curriculum, without the need for complex, subject-specific marking schemes. It also aligns with the review's focus on ensuring positive outcomes for children from disadvantaged backgrounds or with special educational needs and disabilities

Conclusion

As we navigate the Curriculum and Assessment review, it's crucial to remember that sometimes, less truly is more. Adaptive Comparative Judgement, with its focus on simplicity and efficiency, offers a path to achieve the review's ambitious goals without overburdening teachers or students.

RM Compare, as a leading ACJ platform, embodies this 'less is more' philosophy. By streamlining the assessment process, it opens up new possibilities for comprehensive, inclusive evaluation that captures the strengths of every child and young person.

As we look to the future of education in England, tools like RM Compare show us that sometimes, the most powerful solutions are also the simplest, aligning perfectly with the review's vision for a cutting-edge curriculum and assessment system.