Test Development Researcher Assistant (English: grammar, punctuation and spelling)

☞ Department for Education

View: 102

Update day: 07-05-2024

Location: Coventry West Midlands

Category: Education / Training Part-time

Industry: Government Public Administration

Job type: Full-time, Part-time, Permanent

Salary: £32,867 a year

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Job content

Reference number

139632

Salary

£32,867
£32,867 (National) £36,662 (London)

Grade

Higher Executive Officer
Higher Professional Technical Officer

Contract type

Permanent

Business area

DFE - Early Years and Schools Group

Type of role

Operational Delivery

Working pattern

Flexible working, Full-time, Job share, Part-time

Number of posts

1

Location

Coventry, West Midlands, CV1 2WT : Darlington, North East, DL1 5QE : Manchester, North West, M1 2WD : Nottingham, East Midlands, NG1 6HJ : Sheffield, Yorkshire and the Humber, S1 2FJ : City of Westminster, London, SW1P 3BT

About the job

Summary

The Standards and Testing Agency is supporting the successful return of national assessments following their cancellation in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic. This is an exciting time in the Agency as we build back to full delivery.

The post holder for this role will be responsible for managing and supporting the development of KS1 and KS2 English grammar, punctuation and spelling assessment instruments, ensuring that they are developed to high quality and meet the Ofqual common criteria.

The post holder will report to the Lead Test Development Researcher (GPS).

At DfE we have a strong culture of inclusion and diversity and are committed to being an equal opportunities employer. We aim to develop all our staff to enable them to make a full contribution to meeting the Department’s objectives, and to fulfil their own potential. We promote and support the use of a range of flexible working patterns to help staff to balance home and work responsibilities and we treat people fairly irrespective of their working arrangements.

This culture is supported and built upon by our 10 staff networks, ranging from the BAME and LGBT networks to the Carers and EU/EEA Nationals networks. We are proud to be recognised by leading diversity organisations as actively promoting diversity in the workplace. We are also on the Stonewall Index and a member of the business disability forum, as well as achieving Level 2 Disability Confident employer in 2017.

We hope to attract a diverse group of candidates. It’s important to us that our organisation is more diverse, so we encourage applications from people of all backgrounds and identities. We’re especially keen to hear from candidates from BAME communities, who are currently under-represented.

If you have a desire to work on one of the Department for Education’s key priorities for ensuring all children achieve their potential, and ensure a positive experience for schools, this could be the role for you.

Job description

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is the part of the Department for Education responsible for the development and delivery of statutory assessments for pupils up to the age of 14 and for school-based assessment policy.

In addition to policy development and implementation, the STA’s main functions are to:

  • develop high quality and rigorous National Curriculum Assessments (NCA) in line with Ministerial policy

  • deliver the assessments (including printing, distribution, marking and data capture)

  • support schools in carrying out the assessments

Your main responsibilities will be to:

  • support the development of test instruments for specified English grammar, punctuation and spelling testing programmes, including item writing and supplier management as appropriate

  • manage and at times, lead on aspects and/or projects related to the test development cycle

  • monitor and ensure that the specifications are being met for the specified grammar, punctuation and spelling testing programmes

  • collect and provide evidence on the validity and reliability of tests

  • apply appropriate project management techniques to ensure that all projects are delivered to time, cost and quality

  • collaborate in the development of new assessments and new assessment methodologies

  • support other team, divisional and/or department priorities when required;

  • represent the STA at national level discussions on assessment, as required.


Responsibilities

Person Specification

Experience and Technical skills required.

The Test Development Researcher Assistant will have:

Essential experience –

  • a background in English (subject) education and an understanding of the KS1 and KS2 National Curriculum for English, especially the grammar, punctuation and spelling requirements

  • the ability to communicate complex information clearly and concisely and can demonstrate excellent attention to detail

  • experience in managing multiple tasks and/or projects; delivering at pace and to quality

Desirable experience

  • experience in developing tests / assessments to assess a specified framework or specification

  • recent experience of teaching and assessing the National Curriculum for English, ideally the KS1 and/or KS2 National Curriculum

Desirable criteria will only be assessed in the event of a tie break situation to make an informed decision.

Technical skills

We’ll assess you against these technical skills during the selection process:

  • experience in the theories and techniques of assessment. This experience may have been gained through previous test development roles, classroom practice or marking tests or examinations.
  • experience of weighing up qualitative and quantitative information to come to appropriate conclusions

Benefits

Applicants currently holding a permanent post in the Civil Service should note that, if successful, their salary on appointment would be determined by the Department’s transfer / promotion policies.
As a member of the DfE, you will be entitled to join the highly competitive Civil Service Pension Scheme, which many experts agree is one of the most generous in the UK.

You will have 25 days leave, increasing by 1 day every year to a maximum of 30 days after five years’ service. In addition, all staff receive the Queen’s Birthday privilege holiday and 8 days’ bank and public holidays.
We offer flexible working arrangements, such as job sharing, term-time working, flexi-time and compressed hours.
As an organisation, which exists to support education and lifelong learning, we offer our staff excellent professional development opportunities.
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Deadline: 21-06-2024

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