There are four qualifications that can be undertaken within the Educating UK suite of Assessor qualifications.
Each of the qualifications focuses on a particular process of assessment. However, all four of the qualifications require a learner to show their knowledge and understanding of the functions, principles and key concepts of assessment. This blog outlines the main points a learner should know about assessment.
Assessment identifies and confirms the knowledge and competencies gained by a learner when undertaking a qualification.
The functions and purpose of assessment are to measure a learner’s knowledge, understanding, skills and standard of learning. The aim of assessment is to confirm that a learner has gained knowledge and can prove their competencies and skills.
The principles of assessment are that assessment is Valid, Authentic, Current, Sufficient and Reliable – known as VACSR.
Valid- the assessment process is appropriate to the subject or qualification, assesses only what is meant to be assessed and the learner’s work is relevant to the assessment criteria
Authentic – the work has been produced by the learner only
Current- the work is relevant at the time of assessment (usually within three to six months)
Sufficient – the work covers all of the assessment criteria and learning outcomes
Reliable- the work is consistent across all learners, over time and at the required level.
Role and Responsibilities of an Assessor
An assessor has numerous roles and responsibilities. These include planning assessment, assessing learner knowledge and competencies, giving feedback to learners and planning for future assessment activities.
It is an Assessor’s responsibility to ensure a learner is given a detailed and robust induction onto a qualification. At the induction stage an assessor must ensure a learner completes initial assessment activities so any individual learner needs are identified and can be met.
It is also an assessor’s responsibility to ensure that all assessments are planned and organised and a learner is fully aware of the assessment activities that will take place and when and where they will happen.
An assessor must record assessment judgements and give detailed and informative feedback to a learner. Assessors are responsible for following the correct procedures set by a training provider and awarding organisation, as well as adhering to relevant legislation and maintaining learner confidentiality.
An assessor is responsible for promoting equality and valuing diversity with their learners. They must also ensure they maintain their own competencies and knoweldge in their specialist area and continue to undertake CPD activities on a regular basis.
