AAIA – Leading in Learning through Assessment
AAIA’s vision is for all learners to be successful learners and for all learning communities to value effective assessment. Our aim is to achieve this by securing effective assessment practice within the education community.
AAIA was founded in 1990 in order to promote pupil achievement through the development of effective assessment practice. Since that time, it has worked at national level to influence policy developments and at regional and local levels to promote good practice within schools, and has become one of the leading organisations in the field of educational assessment.
The rapidly changing situation in education presents new challenges for all those involved, whether they are in a school, in higher education, a local authority or working as an independent adviser. The Association is open to anyone who has an interest in educational assessment; an increasing number of members are school-based, independent consultants or in higher education.
As the pace of change accelerates and proposals and decisions begin to impact on education at a national level, AAIA has responded on behalf of members to a number of consultations. These include the review of the Early Years Foundation Stage, (Tickell Review), the Y1 phonics test, the National Curriculum review, and the proposed changes to the Ofsted inspection arrangements. In addition, two members of the Executive were invited to appear before Lord Bew’s KS2 test review panel.
Regional groups form the ‘heart’ of the organization and provide a valuable structure for members to network and share information and views through meetings and email contact. AAIA representatives and specialist working groups continue to liaise with Ofqual, QCDA (STA from October 2011), the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors (CIEA) and the Council for Subject Associations (CfSA), keeping the profile of authentic and effective assessment as high as possible.
The Association’s website has been completely rebuilt. It is now more flexible and interactive as well as being more attractive and easier to use. The frequent updating keeps users up to speed with relevant news as it comes in. There are members’ forums on a range of issues. The next stage is to build in even more links with other sites and to compile a directory of services offered by members, which will be a support for those who are independent consultants.
Producing high quality publications aimed primarily at schools is an essential feature of AAIA’s work. “Assessment for Learning: A guide to good practice for Teaching Assistants”, written by members in the South-West region, has been published recently. Forthcoming titles include “Using Assessment for Enhancing Learning” which incorporates aspects of the Welsh and Scottish inspection frameworks, as well as the Ofsted framework, and “Guidance for Assessment Leaders in Secondary Schools.”
(Adapted from the 2011 report to the Association of Professionals in Education and Children’s Trusts – ASPECT, to which AAIA is affiliated.)
