Records of Achievement (Hansard, 20 January 1989)

§ Mr. Kenneth Baker

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are jointly publishing the records of achievement national steering committee report today. Copies have been placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

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We have asked the School Examinations and Assessment Council to consider next steps in the context of its wider remit to advise on assessment and reporting in support of the national curriculum.

The test of the letter is as follows:

P. Halsey Esq. CB LVO
Chairman & Chief Executive
School Examinations and Assessment Council
Newcombe House
45 Notting Hill Gate
London W11 3JB

RECORDS OF ACHIEVEMENT

In my letter to you of 28 September last I invited SEAC to advise the Secretary of State for Wales and me on the arrangements for the provision of information on the assessment of pupils under Section 22 of the Education Reform Act 1988, taking account of the report of the Records of Achievement National Steering Committee (RANSC) once available; and to advise us more generally on the development, implementation and operation of the National Curriculum assessment system.

2. RANSC have now reported: I enclose a copy of their Report. I write on behalf of the Secretary of State for Wales and myself to indicate our initial reactions to the Report; and to invite SEAC to consult on its recommendations and, in the light of those consultations, to advise on the next steps in the context of my letter of 28 September. I would be grateful for the Council's advice by the end of June.

3. RANSC's remit was to report on the experience gained in developing Records of Achievement on the ground and on the implications for introducing such records for all pupils in secondary education in England and Wales; and to prepare draft national guidelines for such records and recording systems. Since the Committee embarked on their work, the context has changed considerably. With the passage of the Education Reform Act, we now have in prospect the introduction of a National Curriculum with its associated assessment and reporting arrangements. Meanwhile, Records of Achievement have been developed in a variety of forms across secondary schools in the majority of LEAs. The Committee have sought to relate that development work to the new context afforded by the National Curriculum.

4. I would be grateful if SEAC would now take forward this work. In doing so, the Council should bear the following considerations in mind.

5. RANSC offer guidelines on the form and content of documents to be given to pupils at 16-plus. They also advocate the production of similar documents through the earlier years of secondary education. The Committee's remit did not extend to primary schools. Subject to your advice, I envisage that there will need to be a consistent basis for the presentation of national assessment results for pupils at each of the key ages of 7, 11, 14 and 16; and that annual if not more frequent reports to parents should include information about pupils' progress in a form to be prescribed in Regulations under Section 22. I look to the Council for advice on whether:

(a) we should use the Regulations under Section 22 to prescribe the format of a document summarising each individual pupil's achievements at the age of 16;
(b) such Regulations should cover the reporting of subjects and activities beyond the National Curriculum; and
(c) the form and content of reports for (i) primary and (ii) secondary age pupils prior to the age of 16 should be similarly prescribed.

6. RANSC also offer advice on the process leading to the preparation of such documents. Much of what they recommend is accepted good practice by teachers. I would see it as for each LEA and for each school to determine its own procedures to underpin the preparation of Records of Achievement.

7. RANSC recommend the establishment of accreditation machinery for Records of Achievement. Bearing in mind the 328W cost and complexity involved, it is not clear to me that any accreditation machinery separate from the support structure needed for the national assessment system is justified.

8. RANSC recommend 1990 as the date by which secondary schools should have schemes which comply with national guidelines; and 1995 as that by which all pupils at 16-plus should receive summary documents complying with the guidelines. I confirm that it is the Government's intention to see early progress on Records of Achievement in all secondary schools. I look to the Council for advice on what should be the precise timetable for the implementation of national requirements, taking account of the need to develop appropriate arrangements for primary schools, and of the timetable for the introduction of National Curriculum assessments.

9. There are issues on which I would expect that SEAC will wish to consult the NCC and CCW. I am therefore sending copies of this letter to Duncan Graham and Hywel Evans.