National Curriculum (Hansard, 16 July 1992)

§ Mr. Patten

In the light of consultation and of the advice of the School Examinations and Assessment Council under its chairman. Lord Griffiths, I shall be making later this month orders to govern the assessment876W under the national curriculum in 1993 of seven-year-olds in the core subjects—English, mathematics and science—and technology, history and geography, and of 14-year-olds in the core subjects and technology. I shall place copies of the orders and accompanying circulars in the Library.

Next year's assessments of seven-year-olds will build on the experience of this year's successful tests. They will consist of: mandatory tests in the core subjects of English, mathematics and science, focusing on the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic; teachers' assessments of pupils' attainments in technology, and for the first time in history and geography, supported by non-mandatory tests; strengthened arrangements to ensure consistency of assessment standards within and between schools. I have decided to give teachers greater flexibility over the timing of the tests of seven-year-olds in the core subjects which, in 1993, will be able to be delivered from the mid-point of the spring term to four weeks before the end of the summer term. This means that: teachers will have longer to deliver the programmes of study if they so choose; and those children whose seventh birthday falls in the summer term can be tested later, if teachers wish. Next year's assessment of 14-year-olds will he the first under statutory arrangements. They will apply to all maintained secondary schools, city technology colleges and such independent schools as choose to participate. The key features will be: short, written papers in science, mathematics. English and technology, taken simultaneously by all pupils under examination conditions; a practical test of pupils' manufacturing skills in technology; teachers' assessments of each pupil's classroom work to provide a detailed diagnosis of strengths and weaknesses which will inform GCSE option choices and future teaching; provision for subject score consisting of test results, in attainment targets covered by tests, and teacher assessments in other attainment targets; a rigorous audit by independent examining bodies of each school's test marking and teacher assessments before results are reported to parents or published. In response to concerns that test dates for 14-year-olds in 1993 should not clash with those for high entry GCSEs, and that testing should not be concentrated within a single week, I have decided that the tests in 1993 will be spread over the two weeks beginning 7 and 14 June. A detailed timetable setting out which tests will be on which days will be distributed to schools early in September.

These measures are a further step in the Government's programme to ensure that pupils' attainments are assessed according to rigorous standards. They will provide parents and teachers with valuable information on each pupil's strengths and weaknesses, and will be a valuable tool in raising further standards in our schools.