Inquiry into National Curriculum Tests 2008: Call for evidence

via NDS RSS on 11 August

Issued by the News Distribution Service on behalf of the Sutherland Inquiry.
Read the full press release from the Central Office of Information

but note that you have only until 12 September to make your point

The process for submitting evidence is set out on the inquiry's website

Scope of the Inquiry

1. How the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) has discharged its remit from DCSF to deliver National Curriculum tests at Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 in 2008, and specifically:
   a. how QCA has delivered against its formal success measures in relation to Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 tests in 2008;
   b. the appropriateness of governance and organisational arrangements within QCA; and
   c. the appropriateness of the DCSF's arrangements to monitor QCA's delivery against its remit.
2. The appropriateness of arrangements put in place by QCA to procure the contract for delivery of National Curriculum tests, and the subsequent management of that contract by QCA, and specifically:
   a. the procurement process from the development of the initial tender specification to the award of the contract;
   b. the suitability of the contract to allow delivery of QCA's remit;
   c. the arrangements for the contractor, ETS Europe (ETS), to report to QCA;
   d. the arrangements for ETS to report risks to QCA;
   e. the effectiveness of QCA's arrangements to manage the ETS contract and the delivery of National Curriculum tests in 2008; and
   f. the functioning of IT systems and programmes to manage and deliver the National Curriculum tests and to ensure delivery of data between the contractor, ETS, QCA, DCSF, and schools.
3. The delivery of the tests in 2008 by the National Assessment Agency (NAA), and ETS:
   a. the nature and extent of the failures;
   b. risk identification, management and contingency planning by ETS and NAA;
   c. quality and use of management information provided by ETS to NAA, and NAA to Ofqual;
   d. administration of the marking process, including the training and management of markers;
   e. communication with schools by ETS and NAA; and
   f. the effectiveness of regulation of National Curriculum tests by QCA (as regulator) and subsequently Ofqual.

Hazel's comment:
I don't think I need to add anything, do I?