Chair of Examiners and Senior Content Validator for iPrimary iLower Secondary MathematicsAbout PearsonAt Pearson we're committed to a world that's always learning. From bringing lectures vividly to life to turning textbooks into laptop lessons, we are always re-examining the way people learn best. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who motivate each other to explore new frontiers in an environment that supports and inspires us to be better. By pushing the boundaries of technology, and each other to surpass these boundaries, we create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world's innovations, personal and global. We are the UK's largest awarding body and offer qualifications that are globally recognised and benchmarked, with educational excellence rooted in a range of General and Vocational courses.
Chair of Examiners and Senior Content Validator Purpose:Working with Pearson as a Chair of Examiners, your role would require you to maintain standards across different specifications and methods of assessment, from year to year and report back to the Assessment team. In role you would be a direct point of contact for the Principal Examiner.
The Senior Content Validator is there to ensure our assessment materials are fit for purpose across the qualifications. This role will oversee the content production process and should make sure they have adhered to key documents such as the writers' guides and assessment strategy.
Core Services and ExpectationsWhen carrying out your role, please be mindful that you represent Pearson and that you should always maintain your professional integrity. Therefore, it is essential that you:
- Act at all times in a way which will not bring Pearson, its employees, and its representatives into disrepute.
- Read all Pearson policies and guidance prior to undertaking contracted activities.
- Respect the confidentiality of centres and learners.
- Attend any and all meetings or training sessions provided, relevant to your role, where requested by Pearson.
- Adhere to deadlines given by Pearson and ensure that all work is carried out to the best of an individual's ability.
- Remain respectful and advocate for others to ensure and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion in a professional manner when carrying out services on behalf of Pearson.
- Have personal IT equipment capable of running Pearson software, relevant malware, appropriate virus protection software, a suitable internet connection, and a personal, secure email account.
- Communicate with Pearson and its centres in a timely manner when carrying out all designated responsibilities.
- Raise any concerns if you suspect or are made aware of any malpractice, maladministration, and/or Safeguarding issues.
Chair of Examiners Role Specific Services and ExpectationsAs well as Pearson's core services expectations, there are also role-specific services and expectations that you must consider and be able to provide. These include:
- Being available to support with queries and feedback on examination days where required.
- Provide support and feedback for new and existing Principal Examiners/Moderators when requested.
- Reviewing and approving the team of supervisors in conjunction with the Assessment team.
- Attending and contributing to pre-standardisation, standardisation, and pre-award meetings alongside the assessment team. There are other meetings where your attendance will be required such as: overall grade awards, appeals against results, and post-series reviews. You will also be representing Pearson at board hearings for examination appeals.
- Sampling marking/moderation from the Principal Examiners/Moderators using the appropriate Pearson systems.
- Acting as a senior point of escalation across the quality assurance process.
- Undertaking accompanied ad hoc moderation/examination visits where necessary.
- Standing as Chair for the awarding meeting to ensure national standards are met. As part of this awarding, you should be available post-meeting in case of any award changes, and to provide evidence to support any boundary recommendation that exceeds Pearson tolerances.
- Completing a Chair of Examiners report following the conclusion of the awarding discussion, where required.
- Completing the Senior Assessment Associate review process reflecting on your own challenges and successes and attending a follow-up meeting with the assessment team where required.
- Submitting reports on the performance of the candidate/series as well as marking and moderating candidates' responses.
- Supporting when complaints are made as you may be expected to provide further evidence or information that leads to decision making.
- Attending and supporting in meetings with customers where required.
Experience and Qualifications Required:Experience:As a representative of the company, you will be expected to have experience in, or be able to demonstrate the ability of the following:
- Experience and knowledge of quality assurance and assessment practice.
- History of moderation and/or marking a regulated qualification.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Proven ability to provide and co-ordinate training such as standardisation and other standards-related activities.
- A comprehensive knowledge of the specification for your specialist sector, including internal and external requirements.
- Provide examples of when you were asked to lead/support essential quality assurance activities.
Senior Content Validator Role Specific Services and ExpectationsAs well as Pearson's core services expectations, there are also role specific services and expectations that you must consider and be able to provide. These include:
- Ensuring assessment materials comply with the Global Content Policy and fully support accessibility, Diversity, Equality & Inclusion, and sensitivity guidelines.
- Being accountable in ensuring all applicable assessment materials are of high quality and are reviewed for all unit(s)/module(s)/component(s), where applicable and within the qualification, ensuring all units have a comparable level of demand.
- Advising on subject specialist matters throughout the production process and feedback where necessary.
- Ensuring the committee adhere to the production schedules and turnaround requests, keeping Pearson informed of your availability.
- Providing feedback on enhancements from past series or known errors that may impact current content assessment materials and ensure these are implemented.
- Providing feedback when errors are identified/escalated during the production process and support any investigations on how errors were introduced.
- Overseeing, to ensure that all facts (including spelling) within the question paper and support material, are accurate and in context, meeting the level of demand and the questions are clear, fit for purpose, and error-free.
- Complying with the demands of the current specification as far as duration of the paper, reading/preparation time, number of questions/items, and all other aspects are concerned, and that the rubric is clear and reflects these requirements.
- Reviewing, reporting, clearly marking up on comments and ensure all comments have been actioned, as and when required, throughout the production process.
- Providing feedback on drafts at each stage and lead sign-off meeting(s) where required.
- Being accountable in ensuring that all associated materials are updated at each stage throughout the production process.
- Overseeing the final sign-off of the final assessment materials.
Experience and Qualifications required:Experience:As a representative of the company, you will be expected to have experience in, or be able to demonstrate the ability of the following:
- Excellent communication skills.
- In-depth knowledge and understanding of the specific content area (e.g., assessments and curriculum development).
- Proven ability to provide and co-ordinate training.
- Proven track record of leading quality assurance activities.
Overall Qualifications:Qualifications required to apply for your chosen role at Pearson will depend on the qualification you are delivering. Please contact Pearson ahead of your application if you have any questions on the requirements.
General Qualifications (e.g. GCSE/A LEVEL)- A relevant degree.
- A UK recognised teaching qualification.
Please note upon successful application Pearson may ask you to provide proof of the qualifications required.