Established in 1768, Stephen Austin provides world-class security printing, packaging and distribution of high-stakes examinations.
Trusted by customers worldwide, we distribute over one hundred million assessments to more than one hundred and fifty countries every year. Our solution includes all services, products and software systems required for the successful administration of high-stakes examinations. Above all, our customers rely on us to deliver to the highest international standards of security, quality and accuracy – protecting the integrity and credibility of their examinations.
GradeMaker is a specialist assessment technology company, developed within Stephen Austin Group from initial concept to a scaled software and international services solution. The GradeMaker platform delivers assessment authoring workflows and item banking solutions that are trusted by awarding bodies around the world to create high-stakes examination papers and other assessments.
AQA is the UK’s most-chosen awarding body for general qualifications, setting and marking more than half the GCSEs and A-levels taken in England each year. It is a world leader in assessment, with a cutting-edge research department focusing on advancing assessment.
AQA has been using GradeMaker since 2018 to author assessment items and exam papers securely and reliably across a wide range of subjects. GradeMaker Pro is now used to develop more than two thirds of all GCSE and A-level exam papers developed by AQA, and continued investment will enable greater adoption across more subjects, as well as enabling the authoring of on-screen exams and assessment.
Rory Fowler, Stephen Austin Group Chief Executive, said:
“GradeMaker has built a compelling platform and service offering which has been going from strength to strength. Becoming part of the AQA group offers GradeMaker an exciting opportunity to grow as part of a renowned assessment organisation. For our customers, AQA brings considerable strength and depth in all areas of assessment during a period of significant change for the sector. GradeMaker is a great technology delivered by a talented team, and AQA is committed to building on that.”
Colin Hughes, AQA Chief Executive, said:
“Bringing GradeMaker into the AQA group is a key component of our strategy to lead digital change in examinations. It also builds on our strategy to diversify across educational assessment more widely, and we will aim to bring different subjects and types of assessment onto the platform. The acquisition of GradeMaker is a further demonstration of our determination to put quality of service to teachers and learners front and centre of our aims. Working together with our other acquisitions such as AlphaPlus, our assessment consultancy, and TQUK, our recently acquired vocational and technical qualifications provider, GradeMaker will enable us not only to enhance what we deliver domestically, but also to extend our services to teachers and learners around the world.”