Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Ed Balls, has today written to the Chair of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, Barry Sheerman, to update him on developments in relation to National Curriculum testing and the publication schedule for Key Stage 2 results.
A copy of his letter to Mr Sheerman follows below.
The Department’s Head of Profession for Statistics has released a statement today on the Department’s Research and Statistics Gateway website at http://www.dcsf.gov.uk/rsgateway Ofqual, the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator, has also released a statement today at ofqual.gov.uk. Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) have also released a statement today at qca.org.uk
LETTER TO SELECT COMMITTEE
Dear Barry
In my statement to the House on 22 July I made a commitment to provide regular updates throughout the summer on progress with the marking and publication of national curriculum tests and results.
I am advised by QCA that according to the last figures released by ETS, when results were updated on Friday 25 July, 99% of Key Stage 2 results are now available to schools. At Key Stage 3, 91% of results are available overall, with 84% available in English, 95% available in maths and 95% available in science. QCA and Ofqual have informed me that there are continuing issues around completing marking and data transfer, which QCA and ETS Europe are addressing. We are continuing to monitor the situation on a daily basis to ensure that everything possible is being done to ensure the remaining results get to schools.
As you know, QCA are engaged in ongoing discussions with ETS Europe following these unacceptable delays in delivering this year's National Curriculum test results. As I explained in my statement to the House, these discussions are highly complex and sensitive – legally, financially and commercially. It is very important that the QCA should be allowed to conclude them in a timely and orderly fashion in order to safeguard the interests of pupils, schools and taxpayers. Earlier this week QCA announced that the National Assessment Agency will take over the management of the reviews process with immediate effect. I welcome this important development.
In their statement issued on 28 July QCA said that schools which request reviews can be reassured that any material sent will be redirected to NAA. Individual markers who have been engaged by ETS for the review process will be contacted directly by the NAA within the next few days to make transitional arrangements.
The publication of provisional national results for Key Stage 2 and 3 is a decision the Department’s Head of Profession for Statistics. In taking this decision, the Head of Profession for Statistics must satisfy himself each year that the volume and quality of data available are sufficient to publish provisional national results and that there is broad consistency of results with previous years. This year he has consulted the National Statistician about the factors he is taking into account in coming to a decision about publication. He has also sought and considered advice from the Office of the Qualifications and Examinations Regulator (Ofqual) on marking quality and any other relevant information. In the light of this advice, his decision, published today on the Department’s Research and Statistics Gateway website, is that the Key Stage 2 publication should go ahead as planned on August 5. Ofqual have also released a statement today at ofqual.gov.uk, and QCA have today released a statement at qca.org.uk.
In line with the normal annual process, the national results are provisional at this stage in the publication cycle, with provisional Key Stage 3 results scheduled to be published a week later on August 12. As with Key Stage 2, the Head of Profession will repeat this process of seeking advice from the National Statistician and Ofqual. A further announcement will be made in the week beginning August 4.
While I continue to be deeply concerned that all results have not yet been released to schools, I hope that the important developments set out in this letter in respect of the publication of results, the management of reviews, and Ofqual’s statement will be welcome news to teachers, pupils and parents.
I am copying this letter to the Speaker, and to Michael Gove MP and David Laws MP. I have also placed a copy in both libraries of the House.
ED BALLS
