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National Curriculum Tests

Volume 486: debated on Thursday 15 January 2009

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many and what percentage of pupils in pupil referral units (a) were entered for key stage 3 tests, (b) were working below the level of the key stage 3 tests, (c) did not register a level in the key stage 3 tests, (d) registered level 1, (e) registered level 2 and (f) registered level (i) 3, (ii) 4, (iii) 5, (iv) 6, (v) 7 and (vi) 8 in each of the last three years. (240624)

The requested information is shown as follows:

The following tables show the number and percentage of pupils in pupil referral units at each level in English, mathematics and science for the last three years, 2006 to 2008.

KS3 test results for pupils in pupil referral units, 2006 to 20081

Number of pupils at each level

Subject

A

T

B

N

2

3

4

5

6

7

28

Total eligible pupils

2008

English

180

24

459

215

117

236

141

13

3

1,388

Mathematics

245

23

144

47

18

334

467

262

86

12

0

1,638

Science

333

25

204

85

39

301

495

196

34

2

1,714

2007

English

505

18

325

313

0

117

252

165

11

3

0

1,709

Mathematics

413

23

112

37

25

328

524

244

83

17

1

1,807

Science

395

27

200

83

45

289

509

201

50

2

0

1,801

2006

English

438

17

416

272

0

128

280

170

17

3

1,741

Mathematics

334

13

103

28

18

276

544

315

94

13

0

1,738

Science

303

22

274

78

57

316

430

225

43

2

1,750

Percentage of pupils at each level

Subject

A

T

B

N

2

3

4

5

6

7

28

Total eligible pupils

2008

English

13

2

33

15

8

17

10

1

0

100

Mathematics

15

1

9

3

1

20

29

16

5

1

0

100

Science

19

1

12

5

2

18

29

11

2

0

100

2007

English

30

1

19

18

7

15

10

1

0

100

Mathematics

23

1

6

2

1

18

29

14

5

1

0

100

Science

22

1

11

5

2

16

28

11

3

0

100

2006

English

25

1

24

16

7

16

10

1

0

100

Mathematics

19

1

6

2

1

16

31

18

5

1

0

100

Science

17

1

16

4

3

18

25

13

2

0

100

1 2008 results are from provisional data.

2 Level 8 can only be achieved in teacher assessments and the mathematics test only.

Notes:

A represents pupils who were absent.

T represents pupils working at the level of the assessment but unable to access the test.

B represents pupils who were assessed by teacher assessment only.

N represents pupils who took the tests but failed to register a level.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how much his Department has spent on contracting a private company to provide pre-tests to the (a) key stage 2 and (b) key stage 3 tests for 2009; and if he will make a statement. (244530)

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) is responsible for the administration of the Key Stage 2 (KS2) and Key Stage 3 (KS3) national curriculum tests, including pre-testing. Contracts are inclusive of development, pre-testing, marking and analysis and equating costs. QCA advise that specific costs for pre-tests are not available.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families how many (a) key stage 1 and (b) key stage 2 test results were appealed against in 2008; what proportion of those appeals led to the results being changed; and if he will make a statement. (244532)

The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is responsible for administering national curriculum tests. Key stage 1 consists of a series of tests and tasks administered by teachers and these are not marked externally. At key stage 2, the NAA has in place arrangements for marking to be reviewed where a school believes that it is inaccurate to the extent that a pupil has received an incorrect national curriculum level. The NAA is currently managing the final phase of the reviews process and expects that all results will be issued to schools in the coming weeks. The great majority of schools have already received results for their review applications. Once the final phase of review marking is complete, NAA will be able to provide full data on the volume and outcome of reviews for the 2008 national curriculum test cycle.

To ask the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families which key individuals from the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority led Project Tornado referred to in paragraph 2.6 of the Sutherland Inquiry report HC 62. (245833)

The National Assessment Agency (NAA) Managing Director had oversight of the procurement process and chaired associated project boards.

The NAA Operations Director was the Senior Responsible Officer for Project Tornado.