Tom Mitchell

Director of Qualifications

Tom has worked in education and educational consultancy for the last 25 years, initially as a University Lecturer and research team leader at Brunel University, and latterly with AlphaPlus. In addition, Tom ran a small e-assessment technology company for 10 years, developing and deploying innovative e-assessment products and strategies for customers in the private and public sectors. 

Tom combines strong technical skills with a practical understanding of educational and policy issues and has led or contributed to several qualification, test and item development projects for AlphaPlus. These include leading the development of new national standards in basic digital skills in England, leading on the design and content for an initial assessment for digital skills, leading the development of OSCEs for the Nursing & Midwifery Council (NMC), leading the development and initial roll-out of new paper-based and onscreen assessments in the UAE schools sector, leading the development of English reading and writing items for the new National Reference Tests, leading on the development of the literacy psychometric item and test development on the Quantitative Programme of Research for Adult English and Maths for BIS, and leading ICT, mathematics and English functional skills development for a range of clients. Tom also spent two years as co-lead on the Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA) programme which AlphaPlus deliver for the Scottish Government, and was one of the team developing the Test of Competence for the Nursing & Midwifery Council. In addition, Tom has led on AlphaPlus work on assessment reliability and validity for Ofqual, leading four Ofqual-funded projects since 2010.