Cirrus Assessment has unveiled a new assessment consultancy service aimed at helping organisations enhance high-stakes examination programmes while responding to growing regulatory and operational pressures.
Organisations responsible for assessments are under increasing strain to maintain academic integrity, uphold governance standards, ensure fairness for candidates and deliver consistently reliable exam experiences. At the same time, many are operating with constrained resources while managing digital transformation, expanding candidate volumes and evolving compliance requirements.
The consultancy service has been developed to provide both strategic and hands-on support, helping organisations navigate these challenges effectively. It builds on Cirrus’s established expertise and extends its consultancy capabilities to both existing clients and organisations using alternative assessment platforms.
Support is delivered through two core service areas: Platform Services and Assessment Services.
Platform Services focus on assisting awarding organisations, universities and professional bodies delivering high-stakes exams via the Cirrus platform, supported by specialist assessment knowledge.
Assessment Services provide broader consultancy across programme design, governance frameworks and delivery operations. This function is led by Robert Burns, Head of Business Consulting, who brings more than 25 years’ experience in the sector. He previously served as Delivery Lead for Assessments at the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, where he managed assessment processes and supporting technologies.
Burns will work closely with organisations undertaking complex initiatives such as assessment redesign, digital transformation and governance restructuring.
Robert Burns, Head of Business Consulting at Cirrus Assessment, said: “Assessment teams are under intense pressure. Standards must hold up to scrutiny. Delivery has to work every time. Our role is to bring calm, practical expertise so organisations can strengthen their programmes without adding unnecessary complexity.
We offer four types of support covering every stage of the assessment cycle. Some organisations need us end to end. Others bring us in for one specific area. Either way they receive the same level of expertise.”
In addition, the consultancy introduces a formal Assessment Process Check, offering a free and independent review of existing assessment programmes. This process helps organisations identify areas of strength, highlight potential risks and explore opportunities for improvement before proceeding further.
Further information about Cirrus Assessment Services and consultancy is now available.