BATOD’s Statutory Assessment and Examination Access Arrangement Working Group (SA&EAAWG)
The BATOD archive that dates back to the early 1900s reflects a long history among deaf education professionals of advocating for a fair playing field for deaf children and young people (CYP) in assessments and examinations. The BATOD magazines and National Executive Council (NEC) meeting records from the 1980s onwards reflect the role of BATOD in raising the awareness of the reasonable adjustments needs to be considered by the awarding bodies, regulatory bodies, educational settings and specialist deaf education workforce. Paul Simpson, National Executive Officer (NEO) (1999-2023) was a staunch representative in many stakeholder meetings and training sessions in this area. Paul’s legacy continues through the work of the UK-wide Statutory Assessment and Examination Access Arrangement Working Group (SA&EAAWG).
The SA&EAAWG plays a critical role in providing support and guidance, resources and shaping equitable assessment practices for deaf CYP from source with the awarding bodies to the practice in the exam room. Its remit covers statutory assessments, national examinations, and the consistency of access arrangements across the United Kingdom (UK).
The group’s work is rooted in a learner’s normal way of working and reviewing challenges and inconsistencies in assessment and exam access arrangements across all the age ranges ie early years foundation profile to university assessments. They meet online three to four times each year with additional meetings for those who volunteer for any sub-group activity. Some of the group’s activity is email based eg a collective response to a query from a member.
The SA&EAAWG brings together practicing practitioners: Qualified Teachers of Deaf Children and Young People (QToDs) from specialist deaf schools, deaf resource provisions, local authority sensory support services, educational audiologists, dual qualified ToDs/SENCos, exam officers, a retired Communication Support Worker (CSW), BATOD NEO, BATOD Accredited Language Modifier coordinator and representatives from the National Deaf Children’s Society (NDCS) to ensure fair, evidence-based access to statutory assessments and examinations for deaf CYP. The group has long standing representation on the Ofqual Access Consultation Forum (ACF) and regularly engages with Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ) and Qualifications Scotland, which replaced the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA) on 1 February 2026. Different approaches across awarding bodies create challenges for consistency, emphasising the need for clearer national guidance and cross-agency dialogue.
Over recent years, the educational landscape has seen significant shifts, particularly with the expansion of digital assessments, evolving regulatory frameworks, and heightened awareness of inclusion. SA&EAAWG’s work therefore addresses both immediate challenges and long-term systemic change, ensuring assessment practices remain fair, evidence‑based, and embedded in the principle of normal way of working.
Every few years, in partnership with the Scottish Sensory Centre, the The working group, organise an online webinar event to give professionals the opportunity to refresh their knowledge of exam access arrangements, any changes that have taken place and to offer a platform for discussion about pertinent issues related to examination access arrangements that impact on deaf students.
