School exams plagued by ‘myriad of errors’
A review of the problems experienced by schools with this year’s English for 14-year-olds tests has concluded that they were “plagued with a myriad of issues and errors”
Half a million pupils had to wait three months longer than they should have done to receive their results as a consequence of computer and marking problems.
Dr Jonathan Ford, managing director, of the National Assessment Agency has resigned following the findings.
The review, established by the board of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in September, said a combination of errors from the printing and distribution of the test materials through to the publication of the electronic results was “badly flawed”.
But it added that there should be no doubts about the test itself, the marking quality or the final national results, which are also published today.
QCA chief executive Ken Boston said: “At QCA our primary responsibility is to pupils and adults who are studying the national curriculum or undertaking tests, examinations and work-related qualifications.”
“However, it is clear from the review by Mike Beasley and his colleagues that we failed to carry out that responsibility effectively in delivery of the 2004 key stage 3 English national test. I reiterate the apologies given to schools by my colleagues in the National Assessment Agency.
The QCA confirmed Dr Ford’s resignation in a statement and wished him well for the future: “Dr Jonathan Ford has made a very substantial contribution in leading the safeguarding and modernisation of the exam system in the last two years and the setting up of the National Assessment Agency.
School Standards Minister David Miliband said it was vital that a delay in delivering results did not occur in future. ” The report is a thorough assessment into what went wrong. I welcome QCA’s commitment to act on the recommendations to ensure this does not happen again.”
The provisional results of the Key Stage 3 English tests show a two per cent rise to 71 per cent compared to the previous year.
Mr Miliband added: “These results, combined with the rise in maths, show that we are making good progress in raising standards in the core subjects for 14 year olds.”
