Mr Ernest Spencer

Honorary Senior Research Fellow (School of Education)

School Of Education, University of Glasgow

Biography

Ernest Spencer has conducted research on, written about and promoted professional understanding of literacy, pedagogy, assessment for learning, national qualifications, national and international monitoring and transformational change since the 1970s, with a consistent emphasis on learning as the central concern of all assessment. After working in further education and secondary schools, including leadership of an English department, he served for ten years as Senior Research Officer at the Scottish Council for Research in Education (SCRE). For eighteen years he was a member of Her Majesty’s Inspectors of Education (HMIE), where he held the positions of National Specialist for Assessment and National Specialist for English and Drama.

At SCRE he led major research projects on assessment and on language/writing across the curriculum. As the HMIE National Specialist for Assessment, he provided policy advice and contributed significantly to teacher education during the development of the original Scottish monitoring surveys (the Assessment of Achievement Programme) and the Higher, Standard Grade and 5-14 assessment arrangements. He has more recently conducted assessment-related research in the context of Curriculum for Excellence for the University of Glasgow (in a Scottish Government-funded project), Education Scotland and the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA). He has participated in and published material on international assessment developments, including the planning, implementation and impact of international monitoring surveys, an ESRC-funded series of seminars on new assessment paradeigms and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) study of formative assessment in secondary schools.

He has been an Honorary Senior Research Fellow in the School of Education, University of Glasgow since 2002.

Research interests

In collaboration with University of Glasgow colleagues and in consultancy activities for other bodies, including Scottish Government, Education Scotland, SQA and local authorities, I have worked throughout my association with the University to develop and maintain high quality interactions among researchers, policy makers, advisers and teachers. The consistent aims have been to optimise assessment policies and practices and to promote understanding of two key ideas:

that curriculum, pedagogy and assessment are integral, interacting parts of a whole;
that effective change in education is a complex matter requiring manifestly valuable educational aims, active engagement of and respect for the professionalism of teachers and the commitment of all key players across the whole educational system.

These broad aims underpin two major areas of work in which I am currently active –

The CAMAU (STEPS) Research Project, involving collaboration with policy makers and teachers to develop and then, in implementation of it, adapt and modify the Curriculum for Wales as a Progression Framework (with colleagues in the University of Glasgow Educational Assessment Network (UGEAN) and in the University of Wales Trinity St David),
The International Educational Assessment Network (IEAN), which brings together policy makers and researchers from twelve small nations and states to tackle assessment challenges collaboratively.

Publications

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Number of items: 42.

2021

Hayward, L. , MacBride, G., Makara Fuller, K. , Morrison-Love, D. , Spencer, E. and Valdera-Gil, F. (2021) Advancing Understanding of Progression in Curriculum for Wales: Clarity, Coherence, Consistency. Project Report. University of Glasgow.

2020

Deakin, G. et al. (2020) Learning Progression: Implications for Curriculum and Assessment. Documentation. International Educational Assessment Network.

Deakin, G. et al. (2020) Rethinking Learner Progression for the Future. Discussion Paper. International Educational Assessment Network.

Hayward, L. et al. (2020) So Far So Good: Building the Evidence Base to Promote a Successful Future for the Curriculum for Wales. Project Report. University of Glasgow & Yr Athrofa.

2019

Marshall, B., Gibbons, S., Hayward, E. and Spencer, E. (2019) Policy, Belief and Practice in the Secondary English Classroom: A Case-Study Approach from Canada, England and Scotland. Bloomsbury: London. ISBN 9781350026001

2018

Hayward, L. et al. (2018) CAMAU Project: Research Report (April 2018). Project Report. University of Glasgow, Glasgow.

2017

Hayward, E. , Morrison-Love, D. , Makara Fuller, K. , Spencer, E., Hughes, S., Ryder, N. and MacBride, G. (2017) CAMAU Project: Progression Frameworks and Progression Steps. 18th Annual AEA Europe Conference, Prague, Czech Republic, 9-11 Nov 2017. (Unpublished)

2016

Hayward, L. , MacBride, G. and Spencer, E. (2016) Scotland: the intersection of international student assessment and educational policy development. In: Volante, L. (ed.) The Intersection of International Achievement Testing and Education Policy. Routledge, pp. 58-74. ISBN 9781138936515

Spencer, E. and Hayward, L. (2016) More than good intentions: policy and assessment for learning in Scotland. In: Laveault, D. and Allal, L. (eds.) Assessment for Learning: Meeting the Challenge of Implementation. Series: Enabling power of assessment (4). Springer International Publishing, pp. 111-127. ISBN 9783319392097 (doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-39211-0_7)

2015

Livingston, K., Hayward, L. , Hutchinson, C. and Spencer, E. (2015) Exploring Teachers’ and Pupils’ Views about Acknowledging Learner Assessment Evidence in the Broad General Education of Curriculum for Excellence for Use in Qualifications in the Senior Phase. Project Report. Scottish Qualifications Authority, Glasgow.

2014

Hayward, L. and Spencer, E. (2014) Assessment for learning. In: Carroll, M. and McCulloch, M. (eds.) Understanding Teaching and Learning in Primary Education. SAGE: London. ISBN 9781446254820

2013

Hayward, L. and Spencer, E. (2013) Lapse kasvamist ja argengut toetavad ideed, mõtteviisid ja dialoog: Šoti kogemus. In: Sutrop, M. (ed.) Väärtuspõhine Kool: Eesti Ja Maailma Kogemus. University of Tartu: Tartu. ISBN 9879985795620

Spencer, E. (2013) National Assessments: improving learning through national monitoring. In: Bryce, T., Gillies, D., Kennedy, A. and Humes, W. (eds.) Scottish Education [4th ed.]. Edinburgh University Press. ISBN 9780748645824

2012

Hayward, L. et al. (2012) Assessment at Transition. Project Report. University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.

2011

Ekevall, E., Hayward, E. , Hayward, G., Magill, J., Spencer, E., MacBride, G., Bryce, A.C. and Stimpson, B.P. (2011) Engineering: young people want to be informed. In: Engineering Education: Inspiring the Next Generation of Engineers, Aston University, Birmingham, UK, 6-8 July 2010,

2010

Hayward, L. and Spencer, E. (2010) The complexities of change: formative assessment in Scotland. Curriculum Journal, 21(2), pp. 161-177. (doi: 10.1080/09585176.2010.480827)

MacBride, G., Hayward, E.L. , Hayward, G., Spencer, E., Ekevall, E., Magill, J., Bryce, A.C. and Stimpson, B. (2010) Engineering the future: embedding engineering permanently across the school-university interface. IEEE Transactions in Education, 53(1), pp. 120-127. (doi: 10.1109/TE.2009.2025368)

Spencer, E. and MacBride, G. (2010) Loving the Challenge: University-School Partnership Advanced Higher Physics Investigations – Evaluation of an Initiative. Project Report. University of Strathclyde Faculty of Engineering. (Unpublished)

2009

Ekevall, E., Hayward, E.L. , Hayward, G., MacBride, G., Magill, J. and Spencer, E. (2009) Engineering – what's that? In: SEFI Annual Conference 2009: 'Attracting Young People to Engineering: Engineering is Fun', Rotterdam, Netherlands, 1-4 July 2009, (Unpublished)

Ekevall, E., Hayward, E.L. , MacBride, G. and Spencer, E. (2009) Should school science education be science and engineering education? In: Association for Science Education (ASE) Annual Conference 2009: 'Getting Practical - How to Make Science Teaching Come Alive!', University of Reading, Reading, 8-10 January 2009, (Unpublished)

Hayward, L. , Spencer, E., MacBride, G., Boyd, B. and Eliot, D. (2009) Past Travel and Future Direction: A Formative Evaluation of the Highland Journey. Documentation. Scottish Government.

MacBride, G., Hayward, E.L. , Ekevall, E. and Spencer, E. (2009) Research, policy and practice - commitment, complexity and uncertainty: a case study of a government research council funded project, Engineering the Future. In: The European Conference on Educational Research: 'Theory and Evidence in European Educational Research', University of Vienna, Austria, 28-30 September 2009, (Unpublished)

2008

Ekevall, E., Hayward, E. , MacBride, G., Spencer, E. and Hayward, G. (2008) Engineering in the curriculum: connecting science, technology and maths. In: Scottish Educational Research Association (SERA) Conference, Perth, Scotland, 27-29 Nov 2008,

Ekevall, E., Hayward, E.L. , MacBride, G., Spencer, E., Cluckie, J. and Hayward, G. (2008) Teaching science and technology through engineering. In: Conference of the British Educational Research Association (BERA), Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK, 3-6 Sept 2008,

Hayward, E. , Spencer, E., MacBride, G. and Boyd, B. (2008) 'Just Making Them Think': Resolving the Summative/Formative Assessment Tension in the Later Years of Secondary School. Project Report. Scottish Qualifications Authority, Glasgow.

Hayward, E.L. , Ekevall, E., MacBride, G., Spencer, E. and Hayward, G. (2008) Engineering education: sustaining transformational change? In: Conference of British Educational Research Association 2008, Edinburgh, UK, 3-6 Sep 2008,

Hayward, E.L. , Spencer, E., McAuley, A., Barrett, L. and Rodrigues, S. (2008) Assessing and informing risk: the role of the HEI research and development strand of the AifL programme exploring teachers’ experiences of bringing together AifL and CfE. In: Scottish Learning Festival 2008, SECC, Glasgow, UK, Sept 2008,

MacBride, G., Ekevall, E., Hayward, E.L. , Spencer, E., Chapman, R. and Hayward, G. (2008) Engineering the future: changing attitudes, changing schools? In: Conference of the British Educational Research Association (BERA), Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK, 3-6 Sept 2008,

MacBride, G., Ekevall, E., Hayward, E.L. , Spencer, E. and Hayward, G. (2008) Improving the transition from school to studying engineering at university. In: Scottish Educational Research Association (SERA) Conference, Perth, Scotland, 27-29 Nov 2008,

MacBride, G., Ekevall, E., Hayward, E.L. , Spencer, E., Hayward, G. and Stimpson, B. (2008) Engineering the future: a sustainable concept? In: Engineering Education Conference, Loughborough, UK, 14-16 July 2008,

MacBride, G., Ekevall, E., Hayward, E.L. , Spencer, E., Hayward, G. and Stimpson, B. (2008) Engineering the future: practitioners, researchers and policy makers working across sectors. In: Engineering Education Conference, Loughborough, UK, 14-16 July 2008,

Spencer, E., Ekevall, E., Hayward, E.L. and MacBride, G. (2008) What should be the place of engineering in the school curriculum? In: British Educational Research Association (BERA) Annual Conference, Heriot Watt University, Edinburgh, UK, 3-6 Sept 2008,

2007

Hayward, L. , Devlin, A.M. and Spencer, E. (2007) Research evaluation of continuity and progression in early years education in Stirling. Other. Stirling Education Authority.

Spencer, E. (2007) Features of Excellent Schools: some research background (paper to support How Good Is Our School: The Journey to Excellence). Documentation. HMIE.

2006

Hayward, L. , Simpson, M. and Spencer, E. (2006) Understanding Success in Formative Assessment. Documentation. Scottish Executive Education Department, Edinburgh.

Hayward, L. and Spencer, E. (2006) There is no alternative ... to trusting teachers. In: Sainsbury, M., Harrison, C. and Watts, A. (eds.) Assessing Reading from Theories to Classrooms. NFER: Slough. ISBN 9781905314218

2005

Hayward, L. , Hedge, N. and Spencer, E. (2005) Closing the Gap: primary secondary liaison in South Lanarkshire. South Lanarkshire Education Authority.

Sliwka, A. and Spencer, E. (2005) Scotland: Developing a coherent assessment system. In: Formative Assessment: Improving Learning in Secondary Classrooms. OECD: Paris, pp. 205-220. ISBN 9789264007413

1983

Spencer, E. (1983) Writing Matters Across the Curriculum. Series: SCRE publication, 79. Hodder and Stoughton: Edinburgh. ISBN 9780340333136

1981

Spencer, E. (1981) Inter-marker unreliability in SCE O Grade English composition. Is improvement possible? Scottish Educational Review, 13,

1979

Spencer, E. (1979) The assessment of English - what is needed? In: Jeffrey, A.W. (ed.) Issues in Educational Assessment. Series: Occasional papers (Scottish Education Department). HMSO: Edinburgh.

Spencer, E. (1979) Folio Assessment or External Examination : an investigation into alternative means of assessing SCE ordinary grade English : report to the Scottish Certificate of Education Examination Board from the Scottish Council for Research in Education. Scottish Certificate of Education Examination Board: Dakieth, Scotland.

This list was generated on Wed May 18 15:30:22 2022 BST.