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, speaking to MPs on Monday
The current position is that in Key Stage 2 the marking is now 100% complete QCA chief Ken Boston, speaking to MPs on Monday
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 head teacher's efforts to contact ETS, the National Assessment Agency and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and receiving assurances that the test papers would be collected for marking, the papers are still there.
Despite the head teacher's efforts to contact ETS, the National Assessment Agency and the Department for Children, Schools and Families, and receiving 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
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".
Responses from other schools getting in touch with the BBC News website show that this is not an isolated incident.
Responses from other schools getting in touch with the BBC News website show that this is not an isolated incident.
The head of St Augustine's school in Weymouth says that he also has not received the English results or scripts - and that ETS has informed the school to check again in another 24 hours.
The head of St Augustine's school in Weymouth says that he also has not received the English results or scripts - and that ETS has informed the school to check again in another 24 hours.
A spokesman for ETS Europe says that the company is investigating the non-collection of the boxes and will be contacting schools which are affected.
A spokesman for ETS Europe says that the company is investigating the non-collection of the boxes and will be contacting schools which are affected.
The unmarked papers in these boxes will be marked as soon as possible, says the ETS spokesman.
The unmarked papers in these boxes will be marked as soon as possible, says the ETS spokesman.
Following the publication of this story, the ETS vice-president Andy Latham has phoned the Lancashire school holding the unmarked papers and has promised that the boxes will be collected today.
Following the publication of this story, the ETS vice-president Andy Latham has phoned the Lancashire school holding the unmarked papers and has promised that the boxes will be collected today.
A spokesman for the National Assessment Agency said that: "Every year a small number of scripts are mislaid during the marking process and some schools have no levels to report on results day.
A spokesman for the National Assessment Agency said that: "Every year a small number of scripts are mislaid during the marking process and some schools have no levels to report on results day.
"Everything possible is done to trace such mislaid scripts but, clearly, these scripts should have been located much earlier. The papers are now being collected and will be marked and we apologise to the schools concerned for the further delay in receiving their results."
"Everything possible is done to trace such mislaid scripts but, clearly, these scripts should have been located much earlier. The papers are now being collected and will be marked and we apologise to the schools concerned for the further delay in receiving their results."
Please send us your comments using the box below:
Please send us your comments using the box below:
To say that all Key Stage 2 papers have been marked and that all results will be available today (Tuesday) is demonstrably false. I know of at least 1 school in my locality which has not had its English results published today as they were returned to the school unmarked and have only recently been collected.Rod Woodhouse, Hertford
To say that all Key Stage 2 papers have been marked and that all results will be available today (Tuesday) is demonstrably false. I know of at least 1 school in my locality which has not had its English results published today as they were returned to the school unmarked and have only recently been collected.Rod Woodhouse, Hertford
KS 2 Sats are not 100% marked, we are still waiting for a large percentage of our science papers which at present read on the web site that our children were absent. In fact all papers were completed no children were absent and they were despatched to markers. We still await the papers return.Carolyn Clarke, Fareham Hampshire
No English results and no returned scripts. The NAA's promise given yesterday at The House of Commons Select Committee was an empty promise. The "helpline" is useless and no-one is answering. An email response advises me to "check the online results in 24 hours."Stephen Mason, Weymouth
No English results and no returned scripts. The NAA's promise given yesterday at The House of Commons Select Committee was an empty promise. The "helpline" is useless and no-one is answering. An email response advises me to "check the online results in 24 hours."Stephen Mason, Weymouth
I was an English marker this year and from start to finish it has been an atrocious experience. The training was appalling and the lack of support from ETS needed to be seen to be believed. I sent my scripts back over 5 weeks ago and was still being contacted up to 8 times a day by ETS until last week enquiring where they were! When I challenged them about their tracking systems they denied there was any problem and said they were just being "diligent"! I would be hard pushed to find a word further removed from the character of ETS this year in my experience. Having been a Head and a teacher and a parent, I think this is a scandal. The pupils deserve the best and have been badly let down by ETS.Hayley Hayes, Bristol
I was an English marker this year and from start to finish it has been an atrocious experience. The training was appalling and the lack of support from ETS needed to be seen to be believed. I sent my scripts back over 5 weeks ago and was still being contacted up to 8 times a day by ETS until last week enquiring where they were! When I challenged them about their tracking systems they denied there was any problem and said they were just being "diligent"! I would be hard pushed to find a word further removed from the character of ETS this year in my experience. Having been a Head and a teacher and a parent, I think this is a scandal. The pupils deserve the best and have been badly let down by ETS.Hayley Hayes, Bristol
Several of our local schools are reporting problems with incomplete results. How can it be claimned that all is complete?Helen Castell, Brentwood
Several of our local schools are reporting problems with incomplete results. How can it be claimned that all is complete?Helen Castell, Brentwood
I am Head of a large inner city school in Birmingham. All our papers were collected, however,on their return not all of them had been marked. After a week of conflicting advice, the unmarked maths paper B was collected. Will we ever see it again? Will it be marked? All our English papers were marked, but on downloading the results from NAA, two sets of scores were missing. This will have a huge impact on our overall targets and percentages. A child who had been identified as having left the school on the attendance register has been entered as "X" -results pending. I have no confidence that these errors will be rectified.Isabel Riley, Birmingham
I am Head of a large inner city school in Birmingham. All our papers were collected, however,on their return not all of them had been marked. After a week of conflicting advice, the unmarked maths paper B was collected. Will we ever see it again? Will it be marked? All our English papers were marked, but on downloading the results from NAA, two sets of scores were missing. This will have a huge impact on our overall targets and percentages. A child who had been identified as having left the school on the attendance register has been entered as "X" -results pending. I have no confidence that these errors will be rectified.Isabel Riley, Birmingham
My children break up from school for the summer on Thursday, and after speaking with the school this morning - it looks unlikely they will get their results before the summer holiday. The children have put so much hard work into this and had to start lessons at 8.00 am for a few mornings a week over a three month period - I think they deserve better than this shamble of marking and it would be nice if their teachers could have the opportunity to give them praise before the holidays - but this is looking very unlikely!!!Sam, London
My children break up from school for the summer on Thursday, and after speaking with the school this morning - it looks unlikely they will get their results before the summer holiday. The children have put so much hard work into this and had to start lessons at 8.00 am for a few mornings a week over a three month period - I think they deserve better than this shamble of marking and it would be nice if their teachers could have the opportunity to give them praise before the holidays - but this is looking very unlikely!!!Sam, London
I trust ETS will not be paid following this fiasco. Equally Mr Balls and his team should be removed fromm office, as incompetence is perhaps the kindest comment that can be suggested. J P Hudson, Lancaster
I trust ETS will not be paid following this fiasco. Equally Mr Balls and his team should be removed fromm office, as incompetence is perhaps the kindest comment that can be suggested. J P Hudson, Lancaster
My primary school has not yet received its Key Stage Two SAT papers. Results of English and Maths are on the Web. However, only half the Science results have been published. I have spoken to ETS twice. Once at 7am and once at 11.20. They seem to be struggling with little or no understanding of what might happen.Kenneth Judd, Leicester City
My primary school has not yet received its Key Stage Two SAT papers. Results of English and Maths are on the Web. However, only half the Science results have been published. I have spoken to ETS twice. Once at 7am and once at 11.20. They seem to be struggling with little or no understanding of what might happen.Kenneth Judd, Leicester City
What a shambles. My son who a year 9 pupil is asking daily for his results. I have just telephoned his school who inform me they will be available "sometime" in July. In truth they have no idea. Someone must be held accountable for this.Jo Plant, Gumley, Leicestershire.
What a shambles. My son who a year 9 pupil is asking daily for his results. I have just telephoned his school who inform me they will be available "sometime" in July. In truth they have no idea. Someone must be held accountable for this.Jo Plant, Gumley, Leicestershire.
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
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
I have marked Key Stage 3 Science papers for 12 years and this year and this has been the worst I have ever experienced. All schools will need to check the quality of marking of all papers. The administration of ETS has been diabolical and their Helpdesk has been less than useless. I suspect there are still many papers unmarked. I received papers for a school but 50 students work were missing and I never received them - who has marked these papers as they were alocated to me? Presumably ETS will now lose the contract if SATs survive this and are put on again next year. I know a number of people who will definately not mark next year!Marker, Surrey
I have marked Key Stage 3 Science papers for 12 years and this year and this has been the worst I have ever experienced. All schools will need to check the quality of marking of all papers. The administration of ETS has been diabolical and their Helpdesk has been less than useless. I suspect there are still many papers unmarked. I received papers for a school but 50 students work were missing and I never received them - who has marked these papers as they were alocated to me? Presumably ETS will now lose the contract if SATs survive this and are put on again next year. I know a number of people who will definately not mark next year!Marker, Surrey
We havent received our sat results yet for our 11 year old who goes to one of the schools in Lancashire. It's a disgrace. This government doesnt seem to have a handle on anything that involves any element of logistics or data transfer. Craig Elwell, Accrington
We havent received our sat results yet for our 11 year old who goes to one of the schools in Lancashire. It's a disgrace. This government doesnt seem to have a handle on anything that involves any element of logistics or data transfer. Craig Elwell, Accrington
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
For the second year in a row the marking of the writing in particular is appalling. Some scripts are mis-marked by upto 6 or 7 marks which would change levels achieved. Considering the raw scores are used to give CVA it is discouraging to all of us who have worked so hard including the children!!Janet Miller, Mansfield Notts
For the second year in a row the marking of the writing in particular is appalling. Some scripts are mis-marked by upto 6 or 7 marks which would change levels achieved. Considering the raw scores are used to give CVA it is discouraging to all of us who have worked so hard including the children!!Janet Miller, Mansfield Notts
This is verging on scandalous. A tremendous waste of money (any of which has been paid to the contractor must now be repaid to the taxpayer (assuming the contract was correctly drawn up by the brains who devised the whole SATS scheme (don't hold your breath!)). The system must be scrapped. Let teachers teach - not coach children to pass tests which arguably indicate nothing more than the teachers already know about a given child's abilities. Year 6 children have little or nothing to gain from the results - the decision on secondary school is generally already made. Year 9 can take internal end of year tests to decide on their subjects/class for year 10 onwards - just as we did years ago. It's straighforward, immediate, more constructive and significantly cheaper. Can we put the funding where it belongs - with the schools and the teachers, and stop this obsession with outsourcing/centralising/targets etc etc. Paul Heffernan, London
This is verging on scandalous. A tremendous waste of money (any of which has been paid to the contractor must now be repaid to the taxpayer (assuming the contract was correctly drawn up by the brains who devised the whole SATS scheme (don't hold your breath!)). The system must be scrapped. Let teachers teach - not coach children to pass tests which arguably indicate nothing more than the teachers already know about a given child's abilities. Year 6 children have little or nothing to gain from the results - the decision on secondary school is generally already made. Year 9 can take internal end of year tests to decide on their subjects/class for year 10 onwards - just as we did years ago. It's straighforward, immediate, more constructive and significantly cheaper. Can we put the funding where it belongs - with the schools and the teachers, and stop this obsession with outsourcing/centralising/targets etc etc. Paul Heffernan, London
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
I have a year 6 child and a year 9 child who are both awaiting their SATS results. All the stress leading up to these tests is unbelievable and now they've got the stress of waiting for their results! My year 9 child doesn't even know if she can do what she has chosen for her options yet as this is based on the SATS results. They both break up this Friday so I doubt either will know what results they've got until it comes in the post which won't help my year 9 child to expect what will happen in September!Gill Lloyd, Dudley
I have a year 6 child and a year 9 child who are both awaiting their SATS results. All the stress leading up to these tests is unbelievable and now they've got the stress of waiting for their results! My year 9 child doesn't even know if she can do what she has chosen for her options yet as this is based on the SATS results. They both break up this Friday so I doubt either will know what results they've got until it comes in the post which won't help my year 9 child to expect what will happen in September!Gill Lloyd, Dudley
Try telling your daughter that she may not get her results and if they do arrive they may be incorrect. What message is that sending to our children - that hard work counts for nothing. The sooner SATS are got rid of the better - they are a total waste of time, money, stress and energy. Why can't we trust our teachers to judge our children - they know best.Anne Lee, Weston - super- Mare
Try telling your daughter that she may not get her results and if they do arrive they may be incorrect. What message is that sending to our children - that hard work counts for nothing. The sooner SATS are got rid of the better - they are a total waste of time, money, stress and energy. Why can't we trust our teachers to judge our children - they know best.Anne Lee, Weston - super- Mare
If teaching staff had shown even half this level of incompetence, Ofsted would have exploded with indignation and slung them out of the profession. Robert Watmough, Southampton
If teaching staff had shown even half this level of incompetence, Ofsted would have exploded with indignation and slung them out of the profession. Robert Watmough, Southampton
Ken Boston must resign immediatelyChris Wood, London
Ken Boston must resign immediatelyChris Wood, London
We had to hand in our teacher assessments for our year 6's by Friday of last week. All our data was ready and then our computer server crashed. We phoned ETS to explain & they told us that we would be charged if our data was in late. At which point our school secretary had to peel me off the ceiling! Unbelievable - they want to charge us for submitting data late, yet their entire system has been a complete farce.Lois Haydon, Bristol
We had to hand in our teacher assessments for our year 6's by Friday of last week. All our data was ready and then our computer server crashed. We phoned ETS to explain & they told us that we would be charged if our data was in late. At which point our school secretary had to peel me off the ceiling! Unbelievable - they want to charge us for submitting data late, yet their entire system has been a complete farce.Lois Haydon, Bristol
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
A friend of mine is in a hotel marking the backlog of KS3 papers. He is into his 3rd week and is currently being paid £300 per day in an effort to clear the remaining papers.Steve Turner, Coventry
A friend of mine is in a hotel marking the backlog of KS3 papers. He is into his 3rd week and is currently being paid £300 per day in an effort to clear the remaining papers.Steve Turner, Coventry
I think that this is an absolute disgrace. The children get so stressed over the results of these tests. It is unbelievable that in this modern age, papers cannot be marked properly. Our children deserve better than this.Helen Matthews, Oldbury
I think that this is an absolute disgrace. The children get so stressed over the results of these tests. It is unbelievable that in this modern age, papers cannot be marked properly. Our children deserve better than this.Helen Matthews, Oldbury
