Lead Developer - Assessment Reform - GCSE Computing

Do you want to play a hands-on role in shaping future GCSE specifications?

Every educator brings a unique perspective, and those perspectives matter when it comes to shaping qualifications that work for all learners.

We’re looking for educators who want to turn their classroom experience into national impact.

As the leading provider of GCSE and A level qualifications, and an education charity, we’re committed to helping learners from all backgrounds realise their potential.

We’re now recruiting Lead Developers to support the development of our reformed specifications. These roles are flexible and mostly remote.

What you’ll do

The role involves contributing to the full assessment development process, ensuring alignment with curriculum requirements and best practice in assessment design.

You will:

• Develop the specification in line with AQA assessment design principles and regulatory frameworks, grounded in a strong understanding of centre delivery contexts and learner diversity.

• Contribute to the shaping of the overall assessment strategy.

• Review and provide feedback on outputs of research and analysis.

• Support developers in creating assessment materials such as question papers, mark schemes and item commentaries.

• Support market testing and evaluation of sample assessment materials (SAMs) and the wider customer support offering.

We expect the qualification development programme to run over approximately 18 to 24 months. The majority of the work that you will be undertaking for AQA will involve you working at home, but you will also attend a mix of virtual and in-person meetings. It is anticipated that there will be approximately 10 days of meetings over the course of the project.

In your application’s personal statement, please provide evidence of:

• Substantial teaching experience in the relevant subject, typically gained through several years of classroom practice, alongside deep subject expertise.

• Experience of developing a specification, writing or reviewing questions and/or marking or moderating.

• Strong leadership and people skills, capable of leading with positivity while supporting and developing a team.

• Consistency in meeting deadlines and delivering work to a strict schedule while facing multiple priorities.

• Understanding of the regulatory obligations when producing a specification and the importance of inclusivity in assessment.

• A focus on quality and consistency, with a track record of producing error free materials.

How you’ll make a difference

You’ll play a vital role in developing specifications that reflect the needs of teachers and learners, delivering work that helps ensure fair, high-quality outcomes for every learner. By working with subject and assessment experts, you will shape new approaches that respond to the changing education landscape.

This is an opportunity to build your professional credibility and gain experience that strengthens your teaching and your future career.

You would be joining a community of thousands of educators, making a national, lasting impact on the subject you love.

Further information

This is a worker contract that will be reviewed regularly and on a maximum of 50 weeks per year, you’ll be paid a fee for both your work and meeting attendance. The successful applicant can expect to receive total fees in the region of £4,000 to £6,000.

In your personal statement, you must provide detailed examples from your experience to demonstrate your suitability, referring to the criteria listed above.

Please note that if you are interested in multiple Lead Developer positions, you will need to create a separate application for each role.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 12 July at 23:00.

Remote interviews are planned to take place between the end of July and the middle of August.

Please note that associate roles with AQA or other awarding organisations may need to be relinquished if you are successful.

AQA welcomes applications from all sections of the community regardless of gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, age, neurodiversity, disability status, citizenship, or any other aspect which makes a person unique.

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