23 September 2014
As part of our mission to inform policy makers and parliamentarians and have a positive influence on education thinking, Cambridge Assessment is pleased to be attending all three British political party conferences again this year.
With less than a year to go before the next British general election and with so much discussion around the reformed national curriculum, GCSEs, A Levels and changes to vocational pathways, education is likely to continue to feature centre stage in all three parties' plans.
But as the political rhetoric ramps up about the ‘forgotten 50 per cent’ or the ‘global race’ it is vital that evidence and research remain at the heart of policy making. With Europe’s largest research unit of its type, and operating in over 170 countries, Cambridge Assessment brings cutting edge and authoritative analysis to the aid of policy makers and can share practical insights of education systems at work from around the globe.
This year, Cambridge Assessment will be represented by its Group Parliamentary Manager, Andrew Williams, and our UK exam board OCR will have available Helen Davies, Head of Public Affairs, Gemma Gathercole, Policy Head on FE and Charlotte Bosworth, Director of Skills and Employment. If you’d like to contact any of our team please go through Group Public Affairs.
In addition, OCR will be hosting joint fringe events with FE Week at all three Party conferences on ‘What Should the Parties' Education and Skills Manifesto Promise?’ The events are open to all conference goers.
Immigration is likely to be another hot topic over the coming months. Working with the think tank Demos, Cambridge Assessment and our exam board Cambridge English Language Assessment have produced ‘On Speaking Terms’ a study of ESOL provision in England for migrants and how sensible reform, within existing budgets, could have economic and social benefits for both wider society and migrants.
And be sure to follow Cambridge Assessment on Twitter as we will be tweeting live from fringe events across all three party conferences.