Pupil Testing (Hansard, 20 January 1995)

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is her policy on the body administering standard assessment tasks using unqualified student teachers to do the marking; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. Forth
The recruitment of qualified markers to mark the national curriculum tests for 11 and 14-year-olds this year is going very well. No unqualified student teachers will be employed to do the marking.

§ Mr. Redmond
To ask the Secretary of State for Education how she will prevent the standard assessment task results for 11-year-olds available in June being used by parents for school selection; and if she will make a statement.

§ Mr. Forth
My right hon. Friend cannot do, and would not want to do, what the hon. Member has suggested. The national curriculum testing and assessment arrangements are intended to raise standards and to promote accountability. My right hon. Friend intends to require schools to publish, in their annual reports and prospectuses, their pupils' aggregate results in the national curriculum assessments and tests for 11-year-olds. This will provide clear and robust information about schools' performance which parents may take in account, alongside other information about schools, when deciding to which school they should apply.

Table 1: Male community action participants each month, by region—1993–94

July August September October November December January February March

Northern — — — 32 66 112 211 458 1,317

Yorkshire and Humberside — — — 59 240 397 653 1,047 1,464

East Midlands and Eastern — — 15 103 297 435 576 849 1,192

London and South East — 22 85 260 607 1,095 2,042 3,676 5,507

South West 35 74 93 221 422 595 777 1,081 1,482

Wales — — 9 69 153 255 383 572 827

West Midlands — — 4 38 146 251 419 682 1,707

North West — — 39 212 421 571 842 1,282 1,889

Scotland — — 12 84 216 350 496 1,030 1,600

Great Britain 35 96 257 1,078 2,568 4,061 6,390 10,677 16,985

726W
My right hon. Friend has, however, made it clear that the results of national curriculum tests and assessments will not be included in national school by school performance tables in 1995.

Table 1: Male community action participants each month, by region—1993–94
	July	August	September	October	November	December	January	February	March
Northern	—	—	—	32	66	112	211	458	1,317
Yorkshire and Humberside	—	—	—	59	240	397	653	1,047	1,464
East Midlands and Eastern	—	—	15	103	297	435	576	849	1,192
London and South East	—	22	85	260	607	1,095	2,042	3,676	5,507
South West	35	74	93	221	422	595	777	1,081	1,482
Wales	—	—	9	69	153	255	383	572	827
West Midlands	—	—	4	38	146	251	419	682	1,707
North West	—	—	39	212	421	571	842	1,282	1,889
Scotland	—	—	12	84	216	350	496	1,030	1,600
Great Britain	35	96	257	1,078	2,568	4,061	6,390	10,677	16,985