Senior Associates - AS and A-level Sociology

Closing date: 30/09/2024

We’re looking for Lead Assessment Writers, Revisers and Item Writers for our AS and A-level Sociology specifications. Please find further details below.

AS Sociology

• Reviser
• Lead Assessment Writers for papers 1 and 2
• Item Writer for paper 2

A-level Sociology

• Reviser
• Lead Assessment Writers for papers 1, 2 and 3
• Item Writer for paper 2

These are great opportunities for education professionals with expert knowledge of the subject. The roles can be undertaken alongside full time teaching commitments and are worked on a contractual basis. You will be paid a fee for any work completed and for any meetings that you attend. The majority of meetings will be held virtually via Microsoft Teams.

Lead Assessment Writer

Lead Assessment Writers are responsible for creating question papers and mark schemes which reflect the requirements set out in a blueprint and specification handbook.

Key deliverables

Some of the key responsibilities of the role are:

• setting quality exam papers that offer valid, fair, reliable and robust assessment and adhere to the specification and regulatory requirements
• the development of clear and accurate mark schemes which support reliable marking
• attending meetings and briefings as required by AQA.

What we are looking for

• experienced teachers with excellent knowledge of the specification and topics
• a degree in this subject or related field is desirable
• experience of marking for an exam board is desirable
• experience of writing questions (within a school setting or other education-based environment) would be advantageous
• applicants for this role should be as equally confident working independently as they are working in a team
• the ability to write to a brief
• an openness to receiving constructive feedback from colleagues in the team and incorporating that feedback appropriately to make amendments to questions
• strong organisation and leadership skills
• consistent in meeting deadlines and delivering work to a strict schedule
• the ability to evidence excellent attention to detail.

Reviser

Revisers are responsible for checking assessment materials to ensure that they are error free and meet their specified purpose/the assessment criteria set out in the blueprint as part of the planning of the papers.

Key deliverables

Some of the key responsibilities of the role are:

• reviewing and approving drafts of the question papers
• making sure that the papers fulfil the demands of the specification and assessment objectives
• checking that the standard of the papers as a whole is appropriate to the target group
• attending meetings and briefings as required by AQA.

What we are looking for

• applicants with excellent subject knowledge and knowledge of relevant topics
• current or recent teaching experience of the subject
• great proof-reading ability
• excellent communication skills
• the ability to articulate clear, honest and appropriate feedback to Lead Assessment Writers
• the ability to consistently deliver to deadlines and work well under time pressure.

Item Writer

Item Writers are responsible for creating individual questions and appropriate supporting marking instructions in accordance with the blueprint and specification handbook. An item is the term we use for an individual question or task and the accompanying mark scheme. .

Key deliverables

The key tasks involved in this role include:

• creating a specified number of questions and accompanying marking instructions for a specified question paper or section of a paper
• working in accordance with the blueprint which will include clear parameters within which questions will need to be written
• attending meetings and briefings as required by AQA.

What we are looking for

• applicants with excellent subject knowledge and knowledge of relevant topics
• current or recent experience of teaching the subject
• the ability to write to a brief
• understanding of what makes a good question paper
• excellent communication and organisational skills
• receptive to feedback and confident working within a collaborative environment.
• consistent in meeting deadlines and delivering work to a strict schedule.

Further Information and how to apply

If you wish to apply, please complete an application form for the role/paper you are interested in, ensuring you do so by the closing date. If you are applying for any paper 2 roles, please specify your topic specialisms in the personal statement section of the application form.

• AS Sociology Reviser – application form
• AS Sociology Lead Assessment Writer paper 1 – application form
• AS Sociology Lead Assessment Writer paper 2 – application form
• AS Sociology Item Writer paper 2 – application form
• A-level Sociology Reviser – application form
• A-level Sociology Lead Assessment Writer paper 1 – application form
• A-level Sociology Lead Assessment Writer paper 2 – application form
• A-level Sociology Lead Assessment Writer paper 3 – application form
• A-level Sociology Item Writer paper 2 – application form

Please find a list of paper 2 topics below.

AS Sociology – 7191/2:

• Culture and Identity
• Families and Households
• Health
• Work, Poverty, Welfare

A-level Sociology – 7192/2:

• Culture and Identity
• Families and Households
• Health
• Work, Poverty, Welfare
• Beliefs in Society
• Global Development
• The Media
• Stratification and Differentiation

For further enquires please contact seniorrecruitment@aqa.org.uk

The closing date for these vacancies and receipt of applications is 30 September 2024.