40 Years of Innovation: How Technology Transformed Education
Adam Foley
Head of Digital Innovation, Surpass Assessment.
Adam has over 25 years of experience in digital assessment within the education sector. A well-respected and recognised leader in the eAssessment field, he has deep expertise in test development, delivery, and innovative assessment design. His work has helped numerous organisations successfully transition from paper-based exams to digital-first solutions.
Adam has worked extensively with vocational and professional bodies, including AAT, Pearson, ACCA, and ICAEW. Most recently at AQA, he played a pivotal role in shaping the strategy for transitioning high-stakes GCSE and A-level exams from paper-based delivery to digital models. In this role, he worked closely with key stakeholders, including the DfE, Ofqual, and senior education leaders, contributing to national education reform discussions and the recently published Curriculum and Assessment Review interim findings.
Recently, Surpass Assessment’s 40th anniversary was marked with a prestigious event held at the UK Houses of Parliament. This landmark occasion highlighted tremendous progress made and how incremental improvements have contributed to significant developments.
If history teaches us anything, it’s that the most profound transformations often begin quietly – fuelled not by grand proclamations, but by persistent innovation. In the realm of education, nowhere is this more apparent than in the story of assessment.
In this article, Adam Foley examines why the next chapter in educational assessment isn’t just about smarter tools, but smarter systems.
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From chalk boards to cloud computing
Rewind to the 1980s. Educational software, even in its rudimentary form, offered a glimpse of how learning could be made more engaging.
Since 1985, Surpass (then known as BTL) has been transforming education through technology – from humble beginnings to becoming pioneers in digital assessment, with a steadfast commitment to improving the assessment experience for everyone.
The 1990s brought the internet revolution. Dial-up tones may now feel like an artifact of the past, but their impact was seismic. Information that once lay hidden behind library walls became instantly accessible. Tech like BTL’s interactive CD-ROMs began to replace dusty encyclopaedias, while early experiments with distance learning planted the seeds for today’s massive online education ecosystems.
By the 2000s, e-learning platforms had arrived in force. Learning Management Systems like Blackboard and Moodle provided structured online environments, and governments invested heavily in interactive classroom technologies.
But it wasn’t just about access to information anymore – it was about managing, sharing and assessing knowledge in smarter ways. BTL moved into online assessment software – screenshots of early item types show the origins of today’s Surpass Platform – at a critical point in digital assessment adoption.
The age of personalisation and AI
The last decade has seen technology become not just a supplement to education but its backbone. The global pandemic in the early 2020s accelerated this shift, forcing institutions to adopt remote and hybrid learning almost overnight. Virtual classrooms became the norm, and assessment strategies had to evolve rapidly to ensure integrity and fairness outside of traditional exam halls.
In this crucible of necessity, AI emerged as a powerful ally.
Today, tools like Surpass Tutor are no longer futuristic concepts: they are active participants in shaping learning experiences. By leveraging AI, educators can offer personalized learning paths, provide immediate feedback, and automate time-consuming administrative tasks. Teachers, freed from the burden of routine grading, can focus on what truly matters – mentoring and inspiring their students.
As a recent UK Department for Education policy paper eloquently stated, “AI has the power to transform education by helping teachers focus on what they do best: teaching.
This marks a shift in how we use technology to enhance lives and tap into the vast potential of AI in our classrooms.”
This isn’t just a technological shift – it’s a philosophical one. The role of the teacher has evolved from information gatekeeper to learning coach, guiding students through highly individualized educational journeys, supporting them to reach their full potential.
The road ahead: rethinking assessment for a new era
Looking forward, the most exciting developments in assessment won’t simply be about delivering tests online or using algorithms to mark essays. They’ll involve wholesale reimagining of the entire educational ecosystem.
Assessment could become continuous and formative, woven seamlessly into the learning process rather than reserved for high-stakes, end-point exams. Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality technologies could immerse learners in simulated environments where the application of real-time skills can be tested and refined. Blockchain may offer new methods for secure, verifiable credentialing, ensuring that skills – not just diplomas – are certified and carry weight in the job market.
Above all, the future of assessment must prioritise inclusivity and flexibility. In a world where industry and commerce evolve at breakneck speed, education can no longer be a phase of life or a point in time – it must become a lifelong pursuit. Smarter systems will help learners of all ages chart personalized, adaptable pathways through constantly shifting landscapes of knowledge.
Why this matters now
Innovation in education isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. Our world is becoming more complex, interconnected, and fast-paced. Learners’ needs are becoming more diverse. Many of the jobs of tomorrow don’t exist yet, and the skills required for them are still being defined. In this context, the future of assessment is more than a technical problem to solve: it’s a societal imperative.
The next chapter isn’t just about smarter tools, but smarter systems – ones that adapt to each learner to ensure that no learner is left behind, empower every teacher and remove barriers to knowledge. The challenge before us is not just to merely keep pace with change, but to lead it.
If the past 40 years have taught me anything, it’s that innovation in education isn’t optional – it’s essential. And with platforms like Surpass Tutor and the rise of AI, the future isn’t just bright; it’s limitless.
