AQA

The Challenge

The Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA) was interested in creating a new Examiner Extranet platform to provide examiners and moderators with online access to exam papers and related documentation. The extranet would provide a simple way to obtain information more quickly, at a lower cost, and with a higher degree of security than AQA's standard paper processes.

With a customer base that includes teachers, examiners, moderators, and examinations officers, AQA required a system capable of securely holding thousands of documents. Previously, documentation was provided through the mass dispatch of paper-based resources, mailed directly to the examiners and moderators at considerable cost to AQA.

Previous AQA online services were built using proprietary database and Java EE technologies - both provided by an incumbent supplier. For the Examiner Extranet project however, AQA wanted to move away from the proprietary stack, and save in ongoing license costs by leveraging the best open source platforms instead.

The timeline to deliver was very tight, as AQA needed to make all upcoming exam documents available by a particular deadline to realize the cost savings from not having to print and post materials.

The Assembly

Optaros worked in partnership with AQA to build the Examiner Extranet using open source components, including Alfresco JBoss Portal Server, EnterpriseDB and CAS Single Sign-On

"Optaros helped provide the support and confidence to move to an open source software stack, offering the potential to save hundreds of thousands of pounds," says Vidal Brownlee, Head of Development at AQA.

The Alfresco content management system (CMS) allows AQA internal users to draft, review and publish documents directly to the extranet. JBoss Portal Server, EnterpriseDB database and CAS security system replaced the existing proprietary stack. This software combination allows examiners and moderators to access the Extranet, and also provides a framework that can be used by AQA to make additional services available to users via a single login ID.

To ensure an on-time and on-budget project delivery, Optaros began by creating a clear project blueprint and implemented ongoing planning, communication and development systems. For example, the project team used dynamic systems development method (DSDM) and Agile techniques, keeping AQA's end users involved throughout the development for frequent system testing and feedback. This highly collaborative approach was supported through the use of OForge, Optaros' Integrated Assembly Environment and shared workspace, where developers and AQA representatives could keep each other informed about project status at all times.

Thanks to the collaboration between teams and efficiencies brought forth by DSDM, Optaros was able to deliver AQA'a Examiner Extranet in less than 10 weeks.

"I would not have been able to deliver a working system in the short time frame available and within budget without Optaros involvement," says David Quaddy, Project Manager at AQA.

In July 2009, more than 23,000 individuals are expected to use the Examiner Extranet system. Clearly, performance and reliability were key to the success of the project.

The Results

Optaros was able to deliver a sophisticated an user-friendly solution for examiners and moderators withing the 10-week timeline.

The application is live, gaining additional registrations daily and on-track to achieve ROI by July 2009.

If AQA had used the incumbent proprietary stack for these upgrades, it is estimated that the project would have faced additional licensing fees in excess of £400K ($600).