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Sats inquiry: watchdog 'failed' Sats inquiry: Watchdog 'failed'
(10 minutes later)
The inquiry into this year's Sats test shambles has blamed the exam watchdog and private contractor ETS Europe.The inquiry into this year's Sats test shambles has blamed the exam watchdog and private contractor ETS Europe.
Lord Sutherland's inquiry into the disruption to tests taken by 1.2 million of England's pupils says the QCA watchdog "failed its remit".Lord Sutherland's inquiry into the disruption to tests taken by 1.2 million of England's pupils says the QCA watchdog "failed its remit".
The QCA has disbanded its assessment agency and suspended chief executive Ken Boston - who had offered to resign.The QCA has disbanded its assessment agency and suspended chief executive Ken Boston - who had offered to resign.
Pupils, parents, schools and markers were badly let down, Lord Sutherland said. The impact had been "massive".Pupils, parents, schools and markers were badly let down, Lord Sutherland said. The impact had been "massive".
He told a news conference in London there had been a culture within the QCA and its National Assessment Agency (NAA) that "it'll be all right on the night".He told a news conference in London there had been a culture within the QCA and its National Assessment Agency (NAA) that "it'll be all right on the night".
There had been problems in the past but it had come good, he said.There had been problems in the past but it had come good, he said.
Asked if the QCA was fit for purpose, Lord Sutherland said: "You see my report. It has not delivered and there have been massive failures."Asked if the QCA was fit for purpose, Lord Sutherland said: "You see my report. It has not delivered and there have been massive failures."
But a lot of people within the organisation had worked extremely hard and with such a core he believed the QCA could be rebuilt.But a lot of people within the organisation had worked extremely hard and with such a core he believed the QCA could be rebuilt.
The QCA's board has not accepted Dr Boston's resignation. In a statement, chairman Christopher Trinick said it had suspended him until it had considered Lord Sutherland's report.The QCA's board has not accepted Dr Boston's resignation. In a statement, chairman Christopher Trinick said it had suspended him until it had considered Lord Sutherland's report.
It has also suspended David Gee, the managing director of the NAA - and said the internal agency would be disbanded, with its functions absorbed back into the QCA.It has also suspended David Gee, the managing director of the NAA - and said the internal agency would be disbanded, with its functions absorbed back into the QCA.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls said that what had happened this year had been "completely unacceptable".
'Lack of planning''Lack of planning'
Lord Sutherland's inquiry blames ETS Europe and its "insufficient" capacity to deliver the tests. Lord Sutherland's 178-page report blames ETS Europe and its "insufficient" capacity to deliver the tests.
It says there was a "lack of comprehensive planning and testing" of the systems used for the tests taken by 11 and 14-year-olds.It says there was a "lack of comprehensive planning and testing" of the systems used for the tests taken by 11 and 14-year-olds.
It said the QCA "failed to deliver its remit from government and did not manage the contract it held with ETS effectively".It said the QCA "failed to deliver its remit from government and did not manage the contract it held with ETS effectively".
In the recriminations that followed the Sats problems, ETS Europe had its £156m contract cancelled and ministers had the embarrassment of postponing the annual league tables based on the results.In the recriminations that followed the Sats problems, ETS Europe had its £156m contract cancelled and ministers had the embarrassment of postponing the annual league tables based on the results.
Half of the Sats themselves - those taken by 14-year-olds - have also been scrapped by the children's secretary in a subsequent shake-up of testing.Half of the Sats themselves - those taken by 14-year-olds - have also been scrapped by the children's secretary in a subsequent shake-up of testing.
Mr Balls labelled this year's problems as a "shambles" and he apologised to schools and families for "all their inconvenience, stress and frustration". The former contractor, Edexcel, has just been reappointed to run next year's remaining tests, for 11-year-olds.
Lord Sutherland said this would be a difficult job and would require close attention being paid to many of his recommendations.
The key ones are:
  • modernise the test process, in consultation with markers, including piloting online marking
  • delivery of the tests should be thoroughly tested and the project managed closely
  • the customer service to schools and markers must be vastly improved.
    • Mr Balls labelled this year's problems a "shambles" and he apologised to schools and families for "all their inconvenience, stress and frustration".
    The Liberal Democrats' schools spokesman, David Laws, called for ministers and other officials to accept responsibility for the problems.The Liberal Democrats' schools spokesman, David Laws, called for ministers and other officials to accept responsibility for the problems.
    "It is appropriate for the head of the QCA to resign, and the managing director of the National Assessment Agency also needs to be replaced," he said."It is appropriate for the head of the QCA to resign, and the managing director of the National Assessment Agency also needs to be replaced," he said.
    "Ministers themselves should also accept some blame for their complacent attitude to the delivery of the tests. It is clear that they were asleep at the wheel," said Mr Laws."Ministers themselves should also accept some blame for their complacent attitude to the delivery of the tests. It is clear that they were asleep at the wheel," said Mr Laws.
    The National Association of Head Teachers welcomed the report but warned of "systemic flaws in current arrangements" and said there was a high risk of a repeat of such problems.The National Association of Head Teachers welcomed the report but warned of "systemic flaws in current arrangements" and said there was a high risk of a repeat of such problems.