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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Exams watchdog facing criticism | Exams watchdog facing criticism |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| An inquiry into the fiasco surrounding this summer's Sats tests in England will strongly criticise the exams watchdog, the BBC has learned. | An inquiry into the fiasco surrounding this summer's Sats tests in England will strongly criticise the exams watchdog, the BBC has learned. |
| Dr Ken Boston, head of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, has resigned ahead of the report into the chaos. | Dr Ken Boston, head of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, has resigned ahead of the report into the chaos. |
| Hundreds of thousands of pupils' test results were delayed and this year's league tables have been postponed. | Hundreds of thousands of pupils' test results were delayed and this year's league tables have been postponed. |
| The inquiry's findings are due to be published on Tuesday. | The inquiry's findings are due to be published on Tuesday. |
| Mr Boston, who had held the post since 2002, said his resignation followed the "delivery failure" for the tests. | Mr Boston, who had held the post since 2002, said his resignation followed the "delivery failure" for the tests. |
| "I have always believed in public bodies and public officials taking responsibility when things go wrong," he said. | "I have always believed in public bodies and public officials taking responsibility when things go wrong," he said. |
| BBC education correspondent James Westhead said Mr Boston's resignation on Saturday had not yet been accepted by the QCA, which could instead choose to sack him depending on the report's findings. | BBC education correspondent James Westhead said Mr Boston's resignation on Saturday had not yet been accepted by the QCA, which could instead choose to sack him depending on the report's findings. |
| Heads rolling | Heads rolling |
| Lord Sutherland is due to publish the findings of his inquiry into what caused the delays and confusion with the tests taken by 11 and 14 year olds. | Lord Sutherland is due to publish the findings of his inquiry into what caused the delays and confusion with the tests taken by 11 and 14 year olds. |
| The BBC has learned the report will be highly critical of the QCA's role. | The BBC has learned the report will be highly critical of the QCA's role. |
| The exam chief is the latest casualty of the administrative failures that affected primary and secondary school tests. | The exam chief is the latest casualty of the administrative failures that affected primary and secondary school tests. |
| ETS Europe, the private outsourcing company hired to adminster the tests has seen its contract terminated. | ETS Europe, the private outsourcing company hired to adminster the tests has seen its contract terminated. |
| Half of the tests themselves are being scrapped - with the Children's Secretary Ed Balls having announced in October that there will be no more compulsory Sats tests for 14 year olds. | Half of the tests themselves are being scrapped - with the Children's Secretary Ed Balls having announced in October that there will be no more compulsory Sats tests for 14 year olds. |
| If Lord Sutherland produces a damning report into what the government calls "severe problems" with the tests, then it could raise the prospect of further heads rolling. | If Lord Sutherland produces a damning report into what the government calls "severe problems" with the tests, then it could raise the prospect of further heads rolling. |
| The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and its testing arm, the National Assessment Agency, were responsible for hiring the US-owned contractor. | The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and its testing arm, the National Assessment Agency, were responsible for hiring the US-owned contractor. |
| Lord Sutherland's report will seek to establish what caused the problems that saw so much confusion over the tests - and why it appeared to take so long for a response. | Lord Sutherland's report will seek to establish what caused the problems that saw so much confusion over the tests - and why it appeared to take so long for a response. |
| 'Shambles' | 'Shambles' |
| Head teachers, teachers and markers had been warning of problems with the organization of this year's test from the spring. | Head teachers, teachers and markers had been warning of problems with the organization of this year's test from the spring. |
| In May, MPs in the House of Commons had said the tests had become a "shambles" - long before the scheduled results date in July. | In May, MPs in the House of Commons had said the tests had become a "shambles" - long before the scheduled results date in July. |
| Following the missed deadlines, Mr Boston appeared before a committee of MPs in July and assured them that all the tests taken by 11 year olds had been marked. | Following the missed deadlines, Mr Boston appeared before a committee of MPs in July and assured them that all the tests taken by 11 year olds had been marked. |
| However a photograph sent soon after to the BBC News website showed boxes of unmarked test papers still lying uncollected in a Lancashire primary school - prompting accusations from opposition parties that the test authorities had lost control. | However a photograph sent soon after to the BBC News website showed boxes of unmarked test papers still lying uncollected in a Lancashire primary school - prompting accusations from opposition parties that the test authorities had lost control. |
| Australian-born Mr Boston had faced intense pressure in the wake of the test problems. | Australian-born Mr Boston had faced intense pressure in the wake of the test problems. |
| But his decision to quit ahead of the inquiry report was regretted by teachers' leaders. | But his decision to quit ahead of the inquiry report was regretted by teachers' leaders. |
| A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Family said it would be "inappropriate for ministers to comment on any issues related to the summer's delays until the Sutherland report is published". | A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Family said it would be "inappropriate for ministers to comment on any issues related to the summer's delays until the Sutherland report is published". |