The Institute of Educational Assessors (IEA) was launched on 9 May 2006 to provide professional support and services for assessment in all its forms, including teachers, examiners, markers and moderators.

It provides professional development through services such as a website, magazine and networking events. Its aim is seek to build the knowledge, skills and capabilities of those working in educational assessment, and provide an independent voice for the assessment community.

• Visit the IEA website for more information

The National Conference 23-24 April 2008

The purpose of the conference is to create real added value for members by supporting their professional development needs in the key area of assessment. In turn the theme also supports the IEA mission of improving the quality of assessment through better assessment standards and accountability. This year's theme is delivering good assessment practice in times of change.

This conference responds to the need to deliver high quality assessment in school, colleges and the workplace during major education reform including the introduction of single levels tests, the new diplomas and new specifications in A levels and GCSEs.

The conference is organised around keynote addresses followed by a series of seminars from which members can choose. The first day, Wednesday 23 April members will be able to hear from Dylan Wiliam and Professor Jouni Valijarvi from Finland. The seminars are then aimed at specific interest groups:

• Changes to government policy
• Assessment research findings
• E-assessment issues
• International comparisons and their impact upon the British system
• Effective practice in secondary schools and the tertiary sector
• Effective practice in primary schools.

On Thursday 24 April the keynote speakers will be Isabel Nisbet, who will outline the role of the new regulator, Alina von Davier from Princeton and John Gardner from Queen's University, Belfast. The seminars will offer the same themes, except that there will be examples of good practice in the secondary and tertiary sectors.

Please click here to access the conference programme

To find out more and to book your place on the conference, please call the conference team on 0845 094 0824 or email at ioea@wbiaevents.com.

Institute of Educational Assessors granted Chartered status

From 2 April 2008 the Institute of Educational Assessors (IEA) will formally be known as the Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors (CIEA) following the granting of a Royal Charter by the Privy Council office.

The accolade comes in recognition of the efforts of the IEA to have the practice of assessment recognised as a professional activity, with separate skills and competencies to teaching that are fundamental to effective teaching and learning.

What does the Charter mean?

• The Charter will enable the CIEA to grant Chartered status to those members who excel in the field of educational assessment.
• The role of the Chartered Educational Assessor (CEA) will be to quality assure the assessment processes that a school, college or training centre use.
• The role of the CEA will also lend itself to the strengthening of teacher assessment within the centre.
• You can find out more about the CEA project by visiting www.ciea.org.uk/

Consultation and research into the institute

The NAA conducted extensive research in 2004 into examiners' views and attitudes towards assessment, which has helped to shape the development of the IEA.

In our initial research we found that examiners felt unsupported, unrecognised and professionally unrepresented in connection with their assessment roles.

In conjunction with MORI, we conducted a more comprehensive consultation with stakeholders on our proposals for the institute in summer 2004. Respondents showed overwhelming support for the aims of the institute, with over 84 per cent agreeing that the organisation should aim to improve the quality of assessment.