To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families by what date he expects (a) Key Stage 2 and (b) Key Stage 3 pupils to receive the results of their 2008 national tests; and if he will make a statement. (205022)

The National Assessment Agency, which administers the National Curriculum tests for Key Stages 2 and 3, has stated that all schools will receive their test results by Tuesday 8 July 2008.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what discussions his Department has had with ETS on the training of markers of Key Stage 2 and 3 national tests; and if he will make a statement. (205023)

None. The National Assessment Agency and ETS Europe, as its delivery partner, are responsible for the recruitment and training of markers for National Curriculum tests for Key Stages 2 and 3. All markers receive professional training in applying the mark scheme. Supervising markers attend a minimum of two full-day training meetings, focusing on the application of the mark scheme and on supporting markers in doing so.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families what procedures his Department has in place to ensure that all markers of national tests are qualified; and if he will make a statement. (205025)

The criteria for recruiting markers for 2008 are the same as in previous years. The new test operations contractor, ETS Europe requires markers to have an educational qualification and teaching experience in the relevant Key Stage and subject. All markers are also subject to a referee check by the Test Operations Agency. Markers are required to attend a full-day training meeting. If markers do not attend the relevant training meeting they are not allowed to mark. Following the training meeting, all markers are required to successfully pass "standardisation", a process whereby markers are required to mark a set number of national standard scripts. Markers that do not pass the standardisation process are not permitted to mark pupils' scripts.