We are proud to share that Dr Aletia Daly, a member of our Educational Psychology Team, has published a new research paper in BPS Psychology of Education Review. This research explores the changes that students themselves would wish to make to the assessment of GCSE English, Mathematics, and Science.
Notably, this is the first large-scale survey that has been explicitly developed and informed by student perspectives from the outset. By listening directly to students, the research ensures that the questions, findings, and conclusions are grounded in their unique experiences and priorities.
Findings show that students expressed different preferences and priorities across the three subjects. For GCSE English, the most prevalent desired change was the introduction of open-book examinations. In contrast, the majority of students indicated that GCSE Mathematics assessments should remain as they are. For GCSE Science, students most frequently favoured a model involving several smaller examinations spread across the school year, alongside a combination of assessment types, such as written exams, coursework, and controlled assessments.
By placing student perspectives at the heart of the research, this paper highlights not only what students think, but also the importance of respecting and responding to their views in discussions about education. This reflects a value we hold deeply across One Education: that children and young people have valuable insights and that their voices should play a central role in shaping the learning experience, influencing our practice in schools and informing education policy more broadly.
Congratulations to Aletia on publication! We are delighted to see her work being recognised and we look forward to seeing how this will contribute to ongoing discussions surrounding assessment, student voice, and the future of education.
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