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1 Sep 2008 : Column 1619W—continued
Dan Rogerson: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) how many emails have been received by ETS from (a) exam markers and (b) team leaders in the last 12 months; how many have been answered; and what the (i) average, (ii) longest and (iii) shortest period of time taken to respond was; [218083]
(2) what targets have been set in relation to the time taken by ETS to answer telephone calls from exam markers and their team leaders; and to what extent those targets have been met; [218084]
(3) what telephone numbers are provided to ETS exam markers in order to access assistance or advice; and how many telephone calls have been answered on each of those lines in each of the last 12 months. [218173]
Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) manages the marking process within the QCA. I have therefore asked David Gee, Managing Director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
Letter from David Gee, dated 1 September 2008:
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, right hon. Ed Balls, has asked me to write to you to answer to a number of parliamentary questions you recently asked.
The questions you have asked pertain to information that the National Assessment Agency either does not currently hold in the form you have requested or which relate to information that may be subject to an obligation of confidentiality or may be commercially sensitive.
Some elements of the information you sought may be available when the test delivery cycle is complete. If that is the case, I will write to you again as soon as possible.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which organisation has been awarded the contract to mark key stage national test papers in 2009; and if he will make a statement. [218227]
Jim Knight: In 2007 the National Assessment Agency (NAA) awarded ETS Europe a five-year contract from 2008 to 2012, to provide external test delivery services for national curriculum tests.
Mr. Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families for what reasons the results of the key stage 2 and key stage 3 tests which had been marked as at 8 July 2008 have been withheld from schools; and if he will make a statement. [219215]
Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). Ken Boston, Chief Executive of the QCA, informed the Department of a potential delay to results on 1 July, and wrote to me on 2 July to confirm that he expected there to be delays in publishing the results of national curriculum tests. This was both because marking would not be complete by 8 July, and because of technical issues around data transfer.
Following extensive discussions between the Department and QCA and after further advice from Ken Boston,
including in a letter to me of 3 July, the Secretary of State wrote to Barry Sheerman, the Chairman of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, to inform him that Key Stage 2 results would be delayed by a week until 15 July, with Key Stage 3 results that are available to be released by the end of the week of 15 July.
QCA advised that the delays would enable the vast majority of Key Stage 2 marking to be complete. In the case of Key Stage 3, while it would take longer to complete results, the delay would ensure that as many schools as possible to receive results before the end of term. The decision to delay results to all schools was to enable the process to happen in an orderly fashion, minimising uncertainty for schools.
We understand that this delay will inconvenience many schools, and we share their frustration and disappointment. NAA is using every measure at its disposal to ensure that all results are delivered as quickly as possible.
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what proportion of 2008 key stage 3 tests in English had been marked at the latest date for which figures are available. [220481]
Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is responsible for the marking process, which is managed by ETS Europe, their test delivery contractor.
We have been advised by NAA that 71 per cent. of pupils’ key stage 3 English results have been released to schools on Friday 18 July 2008. NAA also advised that there are still some scripts remaining to be marked; other scripts have been marked but are awaiting data entry and technical issues have caused delays to this process.
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what criteria were used to assess ETS Europe during the procurement process for the contract to deliver standard assessment tests; [220493]
(2) from which organisations his Department sought references on ETS as part of the procurement process for the SAT contract. [220406]
Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is responsible for the marking process, which is managed by ETS Europe, their test delivery contractor. I have therefore asked David Gee, managing director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when he was informed of problems with the standard assessment testing and marking systems and the particular problems with the ETS Europe contract. [220497]
Jim Knight: The National Assessment Agency (NAA), the division of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) which delivers the national curriculum tests alerted the Department to a number of issues with delivery of national curriculum tests during the test delivery period. We sought and received consistent and regular assurances that the action being taken would resolve those issues and keep the NAA and ETS Europe, their test delivery contractor, on track for release of results to schools on schedule.
The Department was alerted to more significant delivery problems on 1 July. Ken Boston, the chief executive of QCA, wrote to me on 2 July confirming that he expected there would be delays in publishing national curriculum test results, both because marking would not be complete by 8 July, and because of technical issues around data transfer.
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) first became aware that there were potential problems with the standard assessment testing and marking systems; and when the QCA informed Ministers of those potential problems. [220498]
Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is responsible for the marking process, which is managed by ETS Europe, their test delivery contractor. I have therefore asked David Gee, Managing Director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
Letter from David Gee, dated 21 July 2008:
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Rt Hon Ed Balls, has asked me to write to you to answer parliamentary question 220498.
The National Assessment Agency (a subsidiary of the QCA) has closely monitored the development of ETS marking systems since the company was first awarded the contract in early 2007.
The NAA alerted the Department to a number of issues with delivery of national curriculum tests during the test delivery period.
The NAA first formally challenged ETS on marking completion on 23 June 2008. ETS responded on the 26 June 2008.
The Secretary of State was alerted on Tuesday 1 July 2008 to these more significant delivery problems. Ken Boston, the Chief Executive of QCA, wrote to Jim Knight on 2 July confirming that he expected there would be delays in releasing national curriculum test results, both because marking would not be complete by 8 July, and because of technical issues around data transfer.
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what meetings attended by Ministers and officials from his Department on the standard assessment tests and marking system were held between September 2007 and 26th June 2008. [220517]
Jim Knight:
My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State and I have regular meetings with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), of which the National Assessment Agency (NAA) is a division. Recent meetings have included discussions on the administration and
marking of Key Stage tests in 2008, which are now the subject of an independent inquiry being chaired by Lord Sutherland.
Between September 2007 and 26 June 2008 my officials have met with NAA routinely to discuss national curriculum test delivery. The Department is represented on the QCA Board as an observer. Senior officers from QCA and officials from this Department meet every six weeks, to discuss QCA's core business, including national curriculum test delivery. A monthly Assessment Board, chaired by a senior official, was established in March 2008 to oversee the delivery of the Department's assessment policy.
Mr. Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families when Lord Sutherland’s report into the delivery of the Department’s policy by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and the National Assessment Agency will be published. [220518]
Jim Knight: We have agreed that Lord Sutherland’s inquiry into the delivery of National Curriculum tests will report to both the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and Ofqual in the autumn, and that those reports will be published. Lord Sutherland will confirm a date for publication of the final reports in the autumn.
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many key stage 2 pupils received a teacher assessment grading their performance at level six or higher in (a) 2007 and (b) 2006. [220784]
Jim Knight: The number of Key Stage 2 pupils who received a teacher assessment grading their performance at level six in 2007 is available in Table 3b of the Statistical First Release titled “National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 2 in England, 2007 (Provisional)” which is available at:
The number of Key Stage 2 pupils who received a teacher assessment grading their performance at level six in 2006 is available in Table 3b of the Statistical First Release titled “National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 2 in England, 2006 (Provisional)” which is available at:
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many Key stage 2 pupils achieved a level five result in at least one subject in 2007. [220785]
Jim Knight: The available information is contained in Table 4a of the Statistical First Release titled “National Curriculum Assessments at Key Stage 2 in England, 2007 (Revised)” which can be found at:
The table contains percentage of Key Stage 2 pupils who achieved a level five result in at least one subject in 2007.
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families (1) what steps were taken by his Department to corroborate the evidence offered by the State Education Board of California in its role as referee for ETS's tender for the contract to mark Key Stage 2 and 3 examinations; [220787]
(2) what the difference was between the cost of the tender put forward by ETS for the contract to mark Key Stage 2 and 3 examinations and those put forward by other bidders. [220789]
Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is responsible for the marking process, which is managed by ETS Europe, their test delivery contractor. I have therefore asked David Gee, managing director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families if he will publish the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority’s strategy in respect of the introduction of online systems for assessment run by ETS. [221040]
Jim Knight: The administration and marking of national curriculum tests is a function of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) that is delivered independently of Government. The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is responsible for the marking process, which is managed by ETS Europe, their test delivery contractor. I have therefore asked David Gee, Managing Director of the NAA, to write to the hon. Member. A copy of his letter has been placed in the Library.
Letter from David Gee, dated 21 July 2008:
The Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, Rt Hon Ed Balls, has asked me to write to you to answer parliamentary question 221040.
The NAA’s invitation to tender for the procurement of test delivery services required bidders to offer proposals to improve the quality of marking and capture additional item and question level data from pupils. The successful bidder, ETS Europe proposed several on-line online solutions for the delivery of the 2008 test cycle, of which the following three were accepted:
1. On-line standardisation
2. On-line Mark capture
3. On-line benchmarking (Quality assurance during marking).
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what correspondence he has had with the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority since 30 March 2008; and if he will place in the Library copies of the correspondence. [221041]
Jim Knight [holding answer 22 July 2008]: The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) publish a copy of all official correspondence between the Secretary of State and QCA on their website three times a year. A copy of the correspondence up until the end of April 2008 is currently available on QCA's website and this will be updated at the end of October 2008 to cover correspondence from May to August 2008. The QCA's website can be accessed at:
Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families at what point the identified risks relating to the implementation of new online systems of assessment through ETS were entered on his Department’s corporate risk register. [221042]
Jim Knight [holding answer 22 July 2008]: Risks and mitigations for the introduction of new delivery processes in 2008 for the end of the key stage tests were entered on the Department’s high level risk register on 5 July 2007.
Education: Cumbria
Mr. Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how his Department plans to improve attainment levels amongst Cumbrian pupils following the transition from primary to secondary education. [219901]
Jim Knight: The Department’s role is to support locally-led improvement strategies. Schools—governing bodies, heads and teachers—have the lead responsibility for raising standards, supported and challenged by local authorities who work closely with partners to bring together all the wider services that enable children to succeed and achieve.
There are a number of initiatives under way that will improve attainment for Cumbria’s pupils. A joint Children’s Performance Improvement Board for Cumbria has been in operation since February 2008. The Board’s aim is to bring strategic drive to tackling the significant underachievement in the local authority’s (LA) secondary schools as well as providing support and challenge to the LA’s school improvement service. The Board is looking at how schools currently in Ofsted categories can be effectively supported to improve and how the LA can develop better mechanisms for identifying and challenging underperforming schools at risk of falling into failure.
The Academies programme is already acting as a catalyst to help transform secondary education in Cumbria. Carlisle will benefit from two Academies offering enhanced curriculum and extended schools facilities. Westlakes Academy and the planned Barrow Academy will improve the life chances of all young people in the area, and will help regenerate the local economies and offer co-located services.
The National Challenge programme launched on 10 June will provide intensive support for all secondary schools in England where fewer than 30 per cent. of pupils achieve five or more good GCSEs including English and mathematics. We are currently waiting for Cumbria to submit plans for their National Challenge schools, identifying what they intend to do to raise attainment above 30 per cent. and how much money they will need from the £400 million available nationally to carry out these plans. Every school will have a National Challenge Adviser as well as access to a range of bespoke school improvement solutions. Where appropriate, funding will provide for radical structural solutions such as Academies and Trusts, including new National Challenge Trusts.
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