Boxes of unmarked English test scripts are sitting uncollected in a school, despite the exam chief's claim to MPs that delayed marking was 100% complete.
Boxes of unmarked English test scripts are sitting uncollected in a school, despite the exam chief's claim to MPs that delayed marking was 100% complete.
English tests taken by 11-year-olds at several schools were sent to a maths marker, who is also a head teacher at another school.
English tests taken by 11-year-olds at several schools were sent to a maths marker, who is also a head teacher at another school.
He has made repeated efforts to have them collected for marking.
He has made repeated efforts to have them collected for marking.
Phil Hollman, one of the head teachers whose pupils' test papers are still in these boxes, said he was "appalled".
Phil Hollman, one of the head teachers whose pupils' test papers are still in these boxes, said he was "appalled".
Schools had been promised that all the marking had been completed and as of Sunday night almost all marks had been entered into a computer system for publication online on Tuesday.
Schools had been promised that all the marking had been completed and as of Sunday night almost all marks had been entered into a computer system for publication online on Tuesday.
The current position is that in Key Stage 2 the marking is now 100% complete QCA chief Ken Boston
After the failure of the private contractor, ETS Europe, to complete the Sats marking process within the deadline of last Tuesday, a new date was set in an attempt to make sure 11-year-olds received their marks before the end of term.
After the failure of the private contractor, ETS Europe, to complete the Sats marking process within the deadline of last Tuesday, a new date was set in an attempt to make sure 11-year-olds received their marks before the end of term.
Missing papers
Missing papers
The head of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, Ken Boston, told a select committee of MPs on Monday: "The current position is that in Key Stage 2 the marking is now 100% complete."
The head of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, Ken Boston, told a select committee of MPs on Monday: "The current position is that in Key Stage 2 the marking is now 100% complete."
However a photograph sent to the BBC News website shows six boxes of still unmarked English test papers in a Lancashire primary school, wrongly delivered last month.
However a photograph sent to the BBC News website shows six boxes of still unmarked English test papers in a Lancashire primary school, wrongly delivered last month.
It is thought this could contain the unmarked work of pupils in six or seven primary schools.
It is thought this could contain the unmarked work of pupils in six or seven primary schools.
Despite the school's having contacted ETS, the National Assessment Agency and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and assurances that the test papers would be collected for marking, the papers are still there.
Despite the school's having contacted ETS, the National Assessment Agency and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and assurances that the test papers would be collected for marking, the papers are still there.
The children have put their heart and soul into this, that's what hurts Head teacher Phil Hollman
When the head checked the contents of one of the boxes, the registration numbers showed that some of the papers were from St Martin's primary school in Runcorn, Cheshire.
When the head checked the contents of one of the boxes, the registration numbers showed that some of the papers were from St Martin's primary school in Runcorn, Cheshire.
The head teacher of St Martin's, Phil Hollman, only found out that there was a problem when he checked the marks published online and found that his pupils' English test scores were missing.
The head teacher of St Martin's, Phil Hollman, only found out that there was a problem when he checked the marks published online and found that his pupils' English test scores were missing.
Now he has found out that his pupils' papers have never even been looked at by markers - despite assurances that all would be well with delivering results.
Now he has found out that his pupils' papers have never even been looked at by markers - despite assurances that all would be well with delivering results.
"The children have put their heart and soul into this. That's what hurts. I've had to speak to the children this morning to tell them nothing has come back," Mr Hollman told the BBC News website.
"The children have put their heart and soul into this. That's what hurts. I've had to speak to the children this morning to tell them nothing has come back," Mr Hollman told the BBC News website.
"It sums the whole thing up. It's the children who are suffering. We like to speak to each of them individually about their results.
"It sums the whole thing up. It's the children who are suffering. We like to speak to each of them individually about their results.
"I'm not interested in league tables or percentages, it's about how much individual pupils have been able to achieve."
"I'm not interested in league tables or percentages, it's about how much individual pupils have been able to achieve."
Without the information provided by the head teacher who still has the boxes, he says his school would have remained completely in the dark about what had happened to all its pupils' hard work.
Without the information provided by the head teacher who still has the boxes, he says his school would have remained completely in the dark about what had happened to all its pupils' hard work.
In terms of the company which has been running the Sats marking, Mr Hollman says he would like "to treat them with the disdain with which they've treated us".
In terms of the company which has been running the Sats marking, Mr Hollman says he would like "to treat them with the disdain with which they've treated us".
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is investigating the problem highlighted by these two schools.
The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority is investigating the problem highlighted by these two schools.
Please send us your comments using the box below:
Please send us your comments using the box below:
I have marked for a number of years; it has always been badly organised but this year has been unbelievable. I too had papers delivered to me that weren't on my list to mark and after 40 minutes waiting for the helpline to respond they did not know what to do about it. I managed to complete mine on time but had to return one parcel unmarked as it wasn't on my list. I doubt if that will ever be marked, such is the poor communication and understanding of the whole process.Susan Andrews, Ipswich, Suffolk
I have marked for a number of years; it has always been badly organised but this year has been unbelievable. I too had papers delivered to me that weren't on my list to mark and after 40 minutes waiting for the helpline to respond they did not know what to do about it. I managed to complete mine on time but had to return one parcel unmarked as it wasn't on my list. I doubt if that will ever be marked, such is the poor communication and understanding of the whole process.Susan Andrews, Ipswich, Suffolk
We have only eight Year 6s who did the tests. It would have taken us a morning or less to mark them.....two months later and only our maths papers returned...our English not marked or returned and our science incompletely marked and not returned...pathetic. When I think of the pressure schools are under to be perfect these days and meet loads of targets under duress it really makes me angry.Jan Allen, St Austell, Cornwall
We have only eight Year 6s who did the tests. It would have taken us a morning or less to mark them.....two months later and only our maths papers returned...our English not marked or returned and our science incompletely marked and not returned...pathetic. When I think of the pressure schools are under to be perfect these days and meet loads of targets under duress it really makes me angry.Jan Allen, St Austell, Cornwall
The secondary school at which I teach was contacted three weeks ago by the National Assessment folks and were told to "destroy" any student papers which had not been collected. We thought the choice of the word "destroy" was interesting.An absolute disgrace.CB, Newcastle
The secondary school at which I teach was contacted three weeks ago by the National Assessment folks and were told to "destroy" any student papers which had not been collected. We thought the choice of the word "destroy" was interesting. An absolute disgrace.CB, Newcastle
Yet another failure by a large overseas based multi-national "expert" provider of IT & related services contracted by the government... Will they ever learn?Tony Stevens, Belper
Yet another failure by a large overseas based multi-national "expert" provider of IT & related services contracted by the government... Will they ever learn?Tony Stevens, Belper
This is simply ridiculous and unacceptable. After going through the stress and all things asscociated with sitting these tests both children and parents are now in limbo as regards the results. My son breaks up from school this Friday for his summer holiday and there is no certainty we will know his results before then. This latest report of boxes of unmarked English test scripts sitting uncollected simply adds to the farce surrounding this issue, not good enough !!Mr Kevin Mills, Coventry
This is simply ridiculous and unacceptable. After going through the stress and all things asscociated with sitting these tests both children and parents are now in limbo as regards the results. My son breaks up from school this Friday for his summer holiday and there is no certainty we will know his results before then. This latest report of boxes of unmarked English test scripts sitting uncollected simply adds to the farce surrounding this issue, not good enough !!Mr Kevin Mills, Coventry
