Newsletter March 2026
For this edition we have produced a couple of short series focusing on two critical considerations in the world of assessment, and education more generally. The 'AI World' is moving fast and finding time for necessary thinking and consideration has never been more important.
Firstly we have taken a deep dive into the issues of Data Sovereignty, considering where we are right now, where things might be heading and the best approach for all involved.
Secondly we have taken a look at the importance of aligning assessment with curriculum models. The shift from 'product' to 'process' approaches to curriculum design is gathering pace (thanks again to AI), but is assessment design keeping up and what are the consequences if it doesn't?
Our research and thinking in these two important areas has been a key factor in updating our Roadmap. RM Compare has come a long way and continues to move forward at pace - learning quickly has never been more important.
Ranks, rulers and the flywheel
We have spoken for sometime about the ambition to turn 'ranks into rulers'. We have for a while shown the potential of this approach in our Manual On-Demand functionality. Our new user interface, as shown in the RM Compare Companion App, will allow us to make the crucial next step toward an Auto On-Demand experience - you can see a Proof of Concept (POC) here. In doing so we will begin to realise the flywheel that brings ranks and rulers together properly. Watch this space for more details!!
In case you missed it
New! Create interactive reports with your LLM (Experiment) - All RM Compare sessions can allow you to extract very detailed data sets (Advanced and Enterprise Plans). We already provide you with some great reporting, however the latest Generative AI tools might be able to give you even greater insights.
Three Curriculum Models – and the Assessment Each Deserves (New blog series): When curriculum reform “fails”, we often blame teachers, resources, or “implementation”. But very often the real problem is simpler: the curriculum and the assessment system are speaking different languages. Before we can talk about Adaptive Comparative Judgement (ACJ) or RM Compare, we need a shared map of the curriculum landscape – and a clear view of the assessment that genuinely fits each terrain.
Building the Global Infrastructure for Professional Judgement in an Agentic World - The vision of a truly data-driven system is no longer a distant goal; it is the immediate frontier. In 2026, we are witnessing a fundamental shift in how organisations understand data and expertise. This isn't just a story for schools; it is a global movement toward Sovereign Intelligence that spans every sector where human judgement matters.
Roadmap Update - Compass and maps In the world of education and assessment, the terrain shifts daily. A “map” - whether it’s a static dashboard or a rigid three-year product plan - is only truly useful if the world stands still. But when the environment moves faster than your plan, a map quickly becomes a liability.
The Recruitment Arms Race: Why We Are Losing the "Signal in the Noise"The latest edition of the Inside your Ed podcast, titled "Why are so many graduates struggling to find a job?", highlights a growing crisis in the graduate labour market. While much of the conversation focuses on economic cooling, a key section reveals a more systemic failure: the total collapse of the traditional hiring process.
When the Candidates Pass – But the Exam Doesn’t. How to rescue qualifications in the Age of AI : A City of London awarding organisation recently found itself in a strange position. Year after year, candidates were passing a respected Level 6/7 qualification. The statistics looked healthy, the quality assurance paperwork was in order and the exam board could point to detailed rubrics and grade descriptors. Yet employers were telling a different story.
