Policy and Delivery: the National Curriculum Tests Delivery Failure in 2008

HC 205, Sixth Report of Session 2008-09 - Report, Together with Formal Minutes, Oral and Written Evidence

Author:

House of Commons - Children, Schools and Families Committee

Publisher:

TSO (The Stationery Office)

In 2008, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and its contractor, ETS Europe, failed to deliver Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 National Curriculum tests on time. Lord Sutherland of Houndwood chaired an inquiry into the causes of the delivery failure (HC 62, ISBN 9780102958393) and the Committee endorses his findings and recommendations.

This inquiry looks closely at the role of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) in the events leading up to the delivery failure.

The Committee's conclusions and recommendations include:

• Micro-management by the DCSF placed undue constraints on QCA and led to confusion about the arrangements for delivery of the results. The Government must adopt a far less prescriptive approach when issuing instructions to the new Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency.

• Top officials of Government agencies must also be prepared to challenge Government if they are being asked to achieve the impossible.

• The report expresses serious concerns about the role of DCSF observers. Whilst they may have a legitimate role within QCA, observers should never exert undue influence over public bodies' decision-making.

• The presence of observers on the board of Ofqual, the independent regulator, is totally unacceptable; Ofqual's independence should be beyond question.

• The Committee reiterates its concerns about single-level tests. It believes new tests should not be introduced hastily.

• Serious challenges remain and the Government must ensure logistical arrangements are robust.

The December 2008 report of the Sutherland Inquiry (HC 62, ISBN 9780102958393) is available to buy separately, please see below.

Extent	108 pages	ISBN	9780215540317
Size	A4	Price	£15.50
Binding	Paperback	Published	23 Jul 2009
Availability	Colour copy: 3 - 5 days	Delivery	Delivery options and charges

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