WCSQM Assessment Centre 2018 – a unique process

On 1st November 2018, SM6 student Tabitha Ezekiel travelled to the Riverbank Academy, an outstanding special secondary school in Coventry who were hosting the 2018 World Class Schools Quality Mark (WCSQM) Assessment Centre event. This was the final assessment stage for the 2018 cohort of schools applying to achieve World Class Schools Quality Mark accreditation.

The WCSQM award’s uniqueness lies in the fact that the students are assessed with regard to whether they are World Class or not, rather than the school itself. The premise is, that if the school is truly World Class, then its students should be able to demonstrate this in whatever context they find themselves.

WCSQM has been accrediting OFSTED ‘Outstanding’ secondary schools in the UK since 2014 using a framework of skills and competencies that young people need to flourish in an emerging global economy. This year, for the first time accreditation was opened up to primary and special schools. Sixteen secondaries, 7 primaries and 2 special schools made it through to the assessment centre stage.  

This year the students were given the challenge of working together to develop the Riverbank Academy school grounds to promote accessibility, independence and a love of learning for their students through the redesign and renovation of the 16+Hub area, sensory garden and main reception entrance.

A powerful aspect of the process is that applicant students are assessed by students and staff, drawn from schools that are already World Class. As an assessor Tabitha shadowed applicant students during the process and assessed their performance, teamwork and materials produced against the WCSQM framework. Through this process Tabitha had the chance to refine her existing outstanding skills of analysis, project management, communication and diplomacy, and gave the students being assessed access to a World Class role model.

As an assessor, Tabitha will receive a WCSQM assessor qualification; all student assessors are entitled to bespoke references from WCSQM for life, and the best student assessors are short listed for the WCSQM Individual Achievement Award, the winner of which will announced at the WCSQM Awards Ceremony in December in London.

“The student assessors blew me away. They are just operating at the highest level of competence.” Alex Green, Schools Programme Manager at Ashden LESS CO2.

“Our assessor programme means World Class students can develop their skills to a professional standard. Staff find out about the best things other World Class schools do.  It’s an invaluable process.” Bronwen Tumani, Assessment Manager, WCSQM.