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MPs told Sats evidence 'sexed up' MPs told Sats evidence 'sexed up'
(9 minutes later)
The former exam chief for England, who resigned over last summer's Sats marking fiasco, says evidence against him was "sexed up".The former exam chief for England, who resigned over last summer's Sats marking fiasco, says evidence against him was "sexed up".
Ken Boston told a committee of MPs that accounts of his meetings with ministers given to the inquiry into the delays in marking test papers were "false".Ken Boston told a committee of MPs that accounts of his meetings with ministers given to the inquiry into the delays in marking test papers were "false".
He also accused ministers of putting a "protective fence" around themselves.He also accused ministers of putting a "protective fence" around themselves.
The government says Dr Boston should take any complaint to Lord Sutherland, whose inquiry blamed his organisation.The government says Dr Boston should take any complaint to Lord Sutherland, whose inquiry blamed his organisation.
Dr Boston, former head of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, described ministers' version of what happened as "fiction".Dr Boston, former head of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, described ministers' version of what happened as "fiction".
The marking of more than a million test papers taken by 11-year-olds was delayed for months when the company contracted to run the marking - ETS Europe - ran into problems. It later lost the contract.
Results of the controversial tests are used to draw up the primary school league tables. Last year's results were only published earlier this month.
'Totally false''Totally false'
In particular, he took issue with an account given to the Sutherland inquiry of a meeting in June between the QCA and ministers, which he says was "quite incorrect" and "quite unsound". Dr Boston told the Children, Schools and Families Committee he took issue with an account given to the Sutherland inquiry of a meeting in June between the QCA and ministers, which he says was "quite incorrect" and "quite unsound".
The Department for Children, Schools and Families says that the Schools Minister Jim Knight had already acknowledged this "error" in a letter sent earlier this year.The Department for Children, Schools and Families says that the Schools Minister Jim Knight had already acknowledged this "error" in a letter sent earlier this year.
Dr Boston, in an angry response to a select committee, says that he was willing to accept responsibility for the failures with the test administration - but he resented how he had been portrayed. In an angry response, Dr Boston told MPs on the committee he was willing to accept responsibility for the failures with the test administration - but resented how he had been portrayed.
He also said it was "totally false" to say that he had been "pressed" by ministers when it became apparent there were problems with marking the Sats tests.He also said it was "totally false" to say that he had been "pressed" by ministers when it became apparent there were problems with marking the Sats tests.
Asked directly if he thought that ministers were "lying" over placing blame for what went wrong with the tests, Dr Boston said he did not - but that wrong evidence had been given.Asked directly if he thought that ministers were "lying" over placing blame for what went wrong with the tests, Dr Boston said he did not - but that wrong evidence had been given.
Dr Boston told MPs that even before ministers had given their evidence to the Sutherland inquiry, he had been approached by education department officials who wanted him to quit.Dr Boston told MPs that even before ministers had given their evidence to the Sutherland inquiry, he had been approached by education department officials who wanted him to quit.
"The skids were under me," said Dr Boston."The skids were under me," said Dr Boston.
He also claimed that the remit of the inquiry protected the government from being brought to account for its role in the problems.He also claimed that the remit of the inquiry protected the government from being brought to account for its role in the problems.
This latest war of words over the failures by test contractor ETS Europe has been prompted by a letter from Dr Boston to the Commons children, schools and families select committee.
Dr Boston tendered his resignation ahead of Lord Sutherland's report last December.Dr Boston tendered his resignation ahead of Lord Sutherland's report last December.
Lord Sutherland laid the blame at the door of ETS - but also blamed the QCA - for having "failed its remit".Lord Sutherland laid the blame at the door of ETS - but also blamed the QCA - for having "failed its remit".
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The QCA disbanded its assessment agency but refused to accept Dr Boston's resignation, pending its own inquiry.The QCA disbanded its assessment agency but refused to accept Dr Boston's resignation, pending its own inquiry.
It finally did so only on 1 April, saying it was deeply grateful to him for his significant and lasting contribution to education reform.It finally did so only on 1 April, saying it was deeply grateful to him for his significant and lasting contribution to education reform.
'No difference''No difference'
According to extracts of his letter to the select committee, Dr Boston rejected what he said had been attempts by ministers to portray him as "complacent and disengaged".According to extracts of his letter to the select committee, Dr Boston rejected what he said had been attempts by ministers to portray him as "complacent and disengaged".
He said that in evidence to Lord Sutherland's inquiry that Schools Minister Jim Knight had wrongly claimed he (Dr Boston) had been present at one meeting last June when the Sats tests were discussed - when he had not even been invited.He said that in evidence to Lord Sutherland's inquiry that Schools Minister Jim Knight had wrongly claimed he (Dr Boston) had been present at one meeting last June when the Sats tests were discussed - when he had not even been invited.
In a statement, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) said Mr Knight had already written to Lord Sutherland, and to select committee chairman Barry Sheerman, admitting his error on this issue.In a statement, the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) said Mr Knight had already written to Lord Sutherland, and to select committee chairman Barry Sheerman, admitting his error on this issue.
"Lord Sutherland was clear in his response that this made no difference to his findings," a spokesman said."Lord Sutherland was clear in his response that this made no difference to his findings," a spokesman said.
Lord Sutherland said his report had concluded that within the QCA there had been "insufficient corporate oversight" at executive and board level.Lord Sutherland said his report had concluded that within the QCA there had been "insufficient corporate oversight" at executive and board level.
The DCSF spokesman added: "If Ken Boston believes a further correction is required then he should raise it with Lord Sutherland who carried out the independent inquiry."The DCSF spokesman added: "If Ken Boston believes a further correction is required then he should raise it with Lord Sutherland who carried out the independent inquiry."
Dr Boston also challenged the inquiry's finding - read out by Mr Balls in the Commons - that ministers had "usually pressed" him for answers about the Sats marking problems and that the QCA had given "strong reassurances" that the tests were on track.Dr Boston also challenged the inquiry's finding - read out by Mr Balls in the Commons - that ministers had "usually pressed" him for answers about the Sats marking problems and that the QCA had given "strong reassurances" that the tests were on track.
"This too is fiction," he said."This too is fiction," he said.
'Far from the truth''Far from the truth'
"I was not asked to meet directly with the schools minister in the months leading up to the delivery failure at the end of June, including the critical marking period in the final eight weeks."I was not asked to meet directly with the schools minister in the months leading up to the delivery failure at the end of June, including the critical marking period in the final eight weeks.
"Nor was I being 'pressed' by ministers for answers on the telephone or by e-mail," Dr Boston wrote."Nor was I being 'pressed' by ministers for answers on the telephone or by e-mail," Dr Boston wrote.
"The flawed evidence... has been used to portray me as complacent, disengaged, and constantly beleaguered by ministers with questions I was unable to answer," he said."The flawed evidence... has been used to portray me as complacent, disengaged, and constantly beleaguered by ministers with questions I was unable to answer," he said.
"This is far from the truth; it was not corrected by ministers or DCSF officials at draft report stage; and it has been used by ministers to my serious disadvantage.""This is far from the truth; it was not corrected by ministers or DCSF officials at draft report stage; and it has been used by ministers to my serious disadvantage."
Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove said ministers had concentrated on blaming others instead of saying "sorry".Shadow schools secretary Michael Gove said ministers had concentrated on blaming others instead of saying "sorry".
"Ed Balls owes the teachers, parents and children who were let down by his deliberate failure a profound apology and he must come to the House of Commons to set the record straight.""Ed Balls owes the teachers, parents and children who were let down by his deliberate failure a profound apology and he must come to the House of Commons to set the record straight."