Best Transformational Project Award
Online schools are forging ahead in supporting a growing demand for flexible education that can be accessed from anywhere in the world. However, one of the biggest challenges for students, parents/carers and the schools themselves, remains high-stakes assessment.
Traditionally, these students must source brick-and-mortar exam centres to take their exams, a setting that's unfamiliar and different to their ways of working. For many King's InterHigh students and families, this brings additional geographical, physical and psychological/emotional pressures. In response to this emerging challenge, Pearson and King’s InterHigh, delivered a first-of-its-kind pilot in the summer 2023, with 150 students choosing and successfully completing their Pearson Edexcel International GCSE exams from their chosen setting via Pearson-enabled remote invigilation.
By harnessing new technologies, we enabled students in exceptional circumstances – many with SEND, anxiety, health issues or geographical challenges who otherwise may not have been able to sit their exams – to take their exams either onscreen or on paper in their chosen environment and with adaptations such as extra time and rest breaks.
Remote invigilators monitored students from three different camera views from three different recording devices – this included seeing their screen / printed exam paper, location and utilising their webcam and microphone settings. There was also a chat function between students and remote invigilators where they could ask for assistance, for example checking set-up or indicating when they needed rest breaks. We worked with each student at every step – from exam setup to submitting their exams. In total, over 19 days, 1,554 remotely invigilated exam sessions took place across 16 different qualifications.
All 150 students successfully completed their exams remotely and received their grade they deserved – enabling their next steps in education. As with all our Pearson Edexcel exams, we’re committed to ensuring fairness and security, and following consistent processes accordingly – regardless of where or how the exam is completed. To ensure fairness, all students involved in the pilot could not access / download their papers or start their exams until 30 minutes after students sitting exams in schools.
