Written question asked by Damian Green (Conservative) on Tuesday, 29 October 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Thursday, 31 October 2002. It was answered by David Miliband (Labour) on Thursday, 31 October 2002 on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills.

Dept for Education and Skills

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, what steps he has taken to gather evidence about cheating in national tests for 11 year olds; and if he will make a statement. - Includes figure.

Answer: Mr. Damian Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps he has taken to gather evidence about cheating in national tests for 11-year- olds; and if he will make a statement. [78376] Mr. Miliband: The QCA reports to the Department each year on the incidence of malpractice and maladministration in national tests. Both the Department and QCA take all complaints about malpractice very seriously. QCA works closely with LEAs to investigate and monitor reported incidents. Even anonymous complaints are recorded and monitored. QCA works very closely with LEA inspectors who conduct thorough checks throughout the test process. Investigations of malpractice can involve a review of scripts from a school, interviews with teachers, talking to children and drawing on advice from experts in the field depending upon the nature of the allegations. In 2002, 479 cases of alleged malpractice or maladministration across the three key stages were reported, leading to the annulment of the results of seven schools. Of these seven schools, four had the results in one subject annulled, two the results in two subjects and one the results in all three subjects.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 78376; 391 c898-9W;391 c909W
Session: 2001-02
Subjects: Complaints Assessments Fraud Misconduct Qualifications and Curriculum Authority Primary education Teachers
Contains statistics: Yes
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk