ABSTRACT
A subject may have a compelling curriculum and a team of first-class teachers but, if scant attention is paid to the management and oversight of public examinations, pupils will underachieve, and the department’s reputation will plummet. The Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual), which regulates qualifications, examinations and assessments in England, is keen to stress comparability of results across the various boards but, in practice, there is often considerable variation. Discussion and comparison with heads of department in other schools is really useful here as it allows subject leaders to get beyond the glossy brochures to an understanding of the examination board in practice. The easiest way to ensure that departments have the up to date knowledge of examinations they need is to ensure that someone in the team works as an examiner. Mock examinations are important in identifying areas of weakness in the run up to public examinations and it essential, therefore, that middle leaders take them seriously.
