The government's school exams agency for England is taking control of the re-marking of disputed test papers from its contractor, ETS Europe.
The government's school exams agency for England is taking control of the re-marking of disputed test papers from its contractor, ETS Europe.
The National Assessment Agency is to step in with immediate effect, as delays in issuing the results continue.
The National Assessment Agency is to step in with immediate effect, as delays in issuing the results continue.
Head teachers have warned already that a record number of test papers will be sent back for re-marking this year.
Head teachers have warned already that a record number of test papers will be sent back for re-marking this year.
A spokesman for the watchdog said it was acting to restore schools' confidence in the system.
A spokesman for the watchdog said it was acting to restore schools' confidence in the system.
Markers who would have been checking papers for ETS will now work for the National Assessment Agency (NAA).
Markers who would have been checking papers for ETS will now work for the National Assessment Agency (NAA).
Deadline
Deadline
The deadline for re-marking has been pushed back from mid-July to 10 September - or 10 days after all the test scripts have been returned to schools.
The deadline for re-marking has been pushed back from mid-July to 10 September - or 10 days after all the test scripts have been returned to schools.
With an expected increased number of complaints over marking, the process is set to drag on into the autumn.
With an expected increased number of complaints over marking, the process is set to drag on into the autumn.
The announcement that the NAA is intervening directly is the latest stage in the attempts to clear up the unresolved problems in this year's results for tests taken by 11 and 14-year-olds in England.
The announcement that the NAA is intervening directly is the latest stage in the attempts to clear up the unresolved problems in this year's results for tests taken by 11 and 14-year-olds in England.
Almost three weeks after the deadline for returning test results, there are still schools waiting for their marks and returned test papers.
Almost three weeks after the deadline for returning test results, there are still schools waiting for their marks and returned test papers.
ETS said: "Throughout the national curriculum testing process, ETS Europe and the National Assessment Agency have worked closely together to deliver high-quality, reliable results to schools and pupils.
ETS said: "Throughout the national curriculum testing process, ETS Europe and the National Assessment Agency have worked closely together to deliver high-quality, reliable results to schools and pupils.
"ETS are committed to quality marking and results, regardless of who undertakes the review process."
"ETS are committed to quality marking and results, regardless of who undertakes the review process."
Questions
Questions
England's Schools Secretary, Ed Balls, has said that he has been assured that there is no reason to believe that there are any problems with the quality of the marking.
England's Schools Secretary, Ed Balls, has said that he has been assured that there is no reason to believe that there are any problems with the quality of the marking.
But the head of education at the National Union of Teachers (NUT), John Bangs, said it was the first time a government agency had indicated, tacitly, that there was a question over the quality of marking.
But the head of education at the National Union of Teachers (NUT), John Bangs, said it was the first time a government agency had indicated, tacitly, that there was a question over the quality of marking.
"They wouldn't take away re-marking if they didn't have anxiety about the quality of it."
"They wouldn't take away re-marking if they didn't have anxiety about the quality of it."
Shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said: "This is another blow to the credibility of Ed Balls's handling of this years' exam marking fiasco.
Shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said: "This is another blow to the credibility of Ed Balls's handling of this years' exam marking fiasco.
"He told us that the marking of this year's exam scripts was at least as good as in previous years. But now the company he put his trust in has been stripped of the right to re-mark the thousands of papers whose quality is in question."
"He told us that the marking of this year's exam scripts was at least as good as in previous years. But now the company he put his trust in has been stripped of the right to re-mark the thousands of papers whose quality is in question."
He said Mr Balls had failed to answer "the second half of the question": what was going to happen about next year's tests?
He said Mr Balls had failed to answer "the second half of the question": what was going to happen about next year's tests?
'Frustrated'
'Frustrated'
Meanwhile, minutes have been published of the meeting of the QCA's board on 21 May, by which time it was known there were significant problems.
Meanwhile, minutes have been published of the meeting of the QCA's board on 21 May, by which time it was known there were significant problems.
They show that NAA managing director David Gee told the board that ETS, in their first year responsible for the marking of the tests, had been having "some difficulties in support for the 10,000 markers".
They show that NAA managing director David Gee told the board that ETS, in their first year responsible for the marking of the tests, had been having "some difficulties in support for the 10,000 markers".
"Although the marker training content was improved on previous years the logistics for the training of markers, delayed script delivery and over busy helplines has frustrated markers," the minutes say.
"Although the marker training content was improved on previous years the logistics for the training of markers, delayed script delivery and over busy helplines has frustrated markers," the minutes say.
They add: "National Assessment Agency staff are working closely with ETS staff to ensure smoother operations going forward."
They add: "National Assessment Agency staff are working closely with ETS staff to ensure smoother operations going forward."
The QCA's chief executive, Ken Boston, later told a committee of MPs that the NAA had become so concerned about the emerging problems - such as 10,000 unanswered e-mails - that it had up to 70 staff working alongside ETS.
The QCA's chief executive, Ken Boston, later told a committee of MPs that the NAA had become so concerned about the emerging problems - such as 10,000 unanswered e-mails - that it had up to 70 staff working alongside ETS.
Dr Boston said they had found:
Problems with marker recruitment and retention
Markers being given wrong information about the location and time of training
Delay in getting papers to markers
Unmarked scripts being returned to schools
Data entry requirements impacting on rate of marking
Inadequate call centre capacity
Slow and unpredictable data feeds.
Dr Boston said they had found:
Problems with marker recruitment and retention
Markers being given wrong information about the location and time of training
Delay in getting papers to markers
Unmarked scripts being returned to schools
Data entry requirements impacting on rate of marking
Inadequate call centre capacity
Slow and unpredictable data feeds.
An inquiry headed by Lord Sutherland has been set up to investigate the problems with this year's results. It is expected to report in the autumn.
An inquiry headed by Lord Sutherland has been set up to investigate the problems with this year's results. It is expected to report in the autumn.
Keep letting us know of your experiences, using the form below:
Some of the comments we have received:
In the latest release of online results all our pupils are shown as being absent for the Shakespeare paper. That is 176 pupils and all were present! A quarter of our science results are still missing. We have had no scripts returned for English, Maths or Science. Will my school be compensated for the supply cover that will be required so that my staff can check these papers when/if they arrive in September? My queries to the helpdesk have been passed to a 'higher authority'!!Mike Wardle, Bridgnorth, Shropshire
In the latest release of online results all our pupils are shown as being absent for the Shakespeare paper. That is 176 pupils and all were present! A quarter of our science results are still missing. We have had no scripts returned for English, Maths or Science. Will my school be compensated for the supply cover that will be required so that my staff can check these papers when/if they arrive in September? My queries to the helpdesk have been passed to a 'higher authority'!!Mike Wardle, Bridgnorth, Shropshire
30 Mathematics papers so overmarked that the results become virtually unreadable, 2 Science papers incorrectly entered on the online marksheet and one child marked absent for a test that clearly had a marked script! Oh, and all papers having to be returned for 'verification' just in case we're telling fibs (we haven't got time to breathe in school currently, let alone fabricate SAT results). It would appear my own school has been treated fairly lightly in comparison to others (a neighbouring school has had almost 90 English papers 'lost'- must be some big bonfires going on somewhere). So, shall I bill ETS just for the time spent in school or shall I adopt the approach of time and a half after 3.30pm and double time after midnight on Sundays? If so we should be able to afford a good staff outing this Christmas. On a more serious note it is interesting to read the whine of the marker on another posting. She ought to be ashamed to be associated with the whole disgraceful system rather than trumpeting her competency as a marker. She should also note the use of capital letters, not a marker of KS2 English by any chance? Carroll McNally, Telford, Shropshire
30 Mathematics papers so overmarked that the results become virtually unreadable, 2 Science papers incorrectly entered on the online marksheet and one child marked absent for a test that clearly had a marked script! Oh, and all papers having to be returned for 'verification' just in case we're telling fibs (we haven't got time to breathe in school currently, let alone fabricate SAT results). It would appear my own school has been treated fairly lightly in comparison to others (a neighbouring school has had almost 90 English papers 'lost'- must be some big bonfires going on somewhere). So, shall I bill ETS just for the time spent in school or shall I adopt the approach of time and a half after 3.30pm and double time after midnight on Sundays? If so we should be able to afford a good staff outing this Christmas. On a more serious note it is interesting to read the whine of the marker on another posting. She ought to be ashamed to be associated with the whole disgraceful system rather than trumpeting her competency as a marker. She should also note the use of capital letters, not a marker of KS2 English by any chance? Carroll McNally, Telford, Shropshire
I am 14. My results are yet to return to me. I hope it will be soon, I am anxious to know what they are. The NAA took too long in my opinion they should have intervened sooner. But no other year should endure our suffering, stop ETS from marking future papers.Edwin, Essex
I am 14. My results are yet to return to me. I hope it will be soon, I am anxious to know what they are. The NAA took too long in my opinion they should have intervened sooner. But no other year should endure our suffering, stop ETS from marking future papers.Edwin, Essex
I have taught year 6 for 9 years, but this is the first year that I have been put in the uncomfortable position of telling 6 of my children that, although they have been awarded a level 4 for writing, they are not really a level 4 in writing. Luckily, all of the children openly and readily agreed with my teacher assessment of a well-earned level 3. I've got 11 year old children asking me, 'What is the point of the Sats, Miss?' but I have no answer for them. Even the kids can see what a waste of time they have become. When will the government open their eyes?Morag McHardy, London
I have taught year 6 for 9 years, but this is the first year that I have been put in the uncomfortable position of telling 6 of my children that, although they have been awarded a level 4 for writing, they are not really a level 4 in writing. Luckily, all of the children openly and readily agreed with my teacher assessment of a well-earned level 3. I've got 11 year old children asking me, 'What is the point of the Sats, Miss?' but I have no answer for them. Even the kids can see what a waste of time they have become. When will the government open their eyes?Morag McHardy, London
We had some of our KS3 science papers back with students who had been awarded level 7 when they had only done the 3-6 paper. We also had students who were absent on the day but have been awarded levels!em, dorset
I checked some of the marks of my Y9 Maths sats papers. there was clear evidence of the marking having been checked (different colour red) and totals written in pencil then in red suggesting checking. Professionals are in the system trying to make things work. That is a cause for celebration.david Rigby, york
I checked some of the marks of my Y9 Maths sats papers. there was clear evidence of the marking having been checked (different colour red) and totals written in pencil then in red suggesting checking. Professionals are in the system trying to make things work. That is a cause for celebration.david Rigby, york
We are sending 12/45 KS2 writing papers for remarking. The marking is totally eratic. We showed our papers to a senior KS2 writing SAT marker and they commented that they would have not passed the marker. My year 6 teacher took hours at the end of term filling in the paper work and remarking all the papers. SATS are a waste of time. We know the children's levels anyway.Helen Thomas, Nottingham
We are sending 12/45 KS2 writing papers for remarking. The marking is totally eratic. We showed our papers to a senior KS2 writing SAT marker and they commented that they would have not passed the marker. My year 6 teacher took hours at the end of term filling in the paper work and remarking all the papers. SATS are a waste of time. We know the children's levels anyway.Helen Thomas, Nottingham
I was a marker for KS2 English SATs papers. The whole process was a disaster from not being able to log in to being unable to input the marks allocated all due to ETS 'technical faults'. I was unable to log in for 4 whole weeks from receipts of all scripts on 20 May to 22nd June 2008. I was told at the end of May to stop marking papers once I had reached 80 scripts and then come 22 June 2008 I was told to get all further 245 scripts marked and input! Bearing in mind 1 literacy script is actually 4 separate papers!! All my scripts were marked and input and returned at the end of June 2008 and I have not received a single penny in payment. I have now contacted NAA for assistance given 18 emails and 23 phonecalls to ETS have got me nowhere. The whole process is an absolute disgrace and has put professional teachers under horrendous pressure due to ETS being so inept. I intend to take my concerns and issues further as it is a concern such failings are in place at such a critical time in a pupil's education.TRACY DAVIDSON, WEST YORKSHIRE
How much extra is the marking costing. Will the QCA now withdraw its contract of £156m to ETS or were they hoodwinked into not including penalty clauses? Do most people believe the statements by ETS reported by you? viz ETS said: "Throughout the national curriculum testing process, ETS Europe and the National Assessment Agency have worked closely together to deliver high-quality, reliable results to schools and pupils. "ETS are committed to quality marking and results, regardless of who undertakes the review process."Commentator, Nottingham
How much extra is the marking costing. Will the QCA now withdraw its contract of £156m to ETS or were they hoodwinked into not including penalty clauses? Do most people believe the statements by ETS reported by you? viz ETS said: "Throughout the national curriculum testing process, ETS Europe and the National Assessment Agency have worked closely together to deliver high-quality, reliable results to schools and pupils. "ETS are committed to quality marking and results, regardless of who undertakes the review process."Commentator, Nottingham
