The largest English awarding body, the Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) has awarded DRS a five-year contract for continued use of the company’s e-Marker technology to capture marks from candidates’ scripts electronically. DRS has been AQA’s technology partner since 2003.
The new contract, worth £40 million covers the introduction of new techniques for the marking of Long Form Answers (LFA), typically essay-type answers which are usually written in free format in answer booklets.
DRS claims it has developed a process which enables most answers to be segmented automatically without manual intervention. The company also says the facilities available to markers using the LFA module have been radically improved to enable manipulation of on-screen essay images.
Apparently this development, combined with being able to annotate text while marking, makes the technology efficient and easy to use.
Meanwhile, RM is to provide ICT services for Essex County Council's Building Schools for the Future (BSF) programme. Not so surprising, perhaps, as its part of the Skanska RM consortium which was appointed preferred bidder for the programme.
The first phase of the Essex BSF programme, part of the UK single schools capital investment programme, is worth about £150 million in total, including buildings and ICT. The company will design, implement and deliver managed ICT service. The first four schools in the programme are scheduled to open by January 2012.