Sats fiasco could spark changes
Significant changes are likely to be made to national curriculum tests, known as Sats, according to the peer who led a review into marking errors.
Lord Sutherland, who investigated delays in marking last summer's Sats in England, told MPs he would expect "significant changes" to the system.
But he stressed testing was important and should remain in some form.
Lord Sutherland's report, published in December, said there had been "massive failures" in the Sats marking system.
The report found ETS Europe, the company which held the Sats contract, did not have the capacity to deliver it on time and that there had been a lack of planning.
It concluded that the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) , which was responsible for delivering the tests, had failed to manage the contract effectively.
The agency was also blamed for failing to vet ETS properly. The company had previously had its reputation brought into question in the United States.
More than one million children were left waiting for marks last summer after a series of blunders including a failure to train markers on time.
'Significant changes'
Giving evidence to the Commons children, schools and families committee on Monday, Lord Sutherland said: "There were so many problems this year with the current system, it has had such difficulties I would be surprised if there wasn't significant changes."
The government is currently piloting a system known as single level testing. This involves teachers making an assessment of when pupils are working at a particular national curriculum level, then entering them for a test at that level.
Lord Sutherland said this increased the risk of things going wrong.
He was also asked if he thought the quality of marking had been as good last year as in previous years - even though his remit had not covered that issue, as his report made clear.
He said the exams regulator, Ofqual, was investigating.
But he added: "A very large number of markers have done a good job as they have done in the past. Because of administration arrangements a few did not have the training they would have had.
"What they didn't have - alongside of that - they didn't have adequate resources and support."
Admiration
Lord Sutherland paid tribute to the chief executive of the QCA, Ken Boston, who offered to resign in response to the crisis.
Dr Boston's resignation was not accepted and he has been officially suspended by the QCA board.
Lord Sutherland said Dr Boston's resignation was "much to his credit and his honour if he felt responsible."
"I admire Ken Boston and what he's done."
Source: BBC News 27th January 2009.
27th Jan 2009
