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National Curriculum Tests

Answer

The remit of Ofqual is to regulate the national curriculum assessments to ensure standards are maintained and assessments are fair and effective. Ofqual operates independently from Government, and I have asked Kathleen Tattersall, chair of Ofqual, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of this letter will be placed in the Library.Letter from Isabel Nisbet, dated 15 September 2008:"DCSF have forwarded the following Parliamentary Question of Ofqual as it falls within Ofqual's remit.""““To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, pursuant to the Oral Statement of 22nd July 2008, what factors Ofqual took into account in determining that the quality of marking of this year's key stage 2 and key stage 3 national curriculum tests was at least as good as in previous years.””""In response to this question Ofqual has rigorously monitored this year's national curriculum tests. It was assured by the National Assessment Agency that the criteria for marker appointments were in line with previous years. Ofqual attended marker training ""events, level setting meetings and script scrutiny meetings as well as checking that all procedures in place for the marking of the scripts were in line with our code of practice. The marking quality assurance measures in place for this year's tests have been good practice and included more systematic and frequent comparison with a benchmark against a national standard rather than a check by a team leader. From the monitoring of quality assurance processes Ofqual carried out it concluded that while it was not possible to predict the volume of reviews schools will request this year, the quality of the marking is at least as good as previous years.""I am copying this letter to Sue White at DCSF to ensure that the copy of this letter is kept at the House Library."

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

480 c493-4W; 223073

Session

2007-08

Related items

SATs Testing
Tuesday, 22 July 2008
Parliamentary proceedings
House of Commons

Subjects

National curriculum tests

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk