HC Deb 22 April 1993 vol 223 cc200-1W
20. Mr. Harry Greenway

To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the progress of SATs at key stages 1 to 4.

Mr. Hanley

At key stages 1 to 3 assessment will be, as in England and Wales, by a combination of teacher assessment and external tests. In Northern Ireland these tests are called common assessment instruments. Assessments at key stages 2, aged 11, and 3 (aged 14) are being piloted this year. The key stage 2 pilot CAIs, in English, mathematics and Irish in Irish-medium schools, were administered in mid-February; the key stage 3 pilot CAIs, in English, mathematics and science, will be administered in May. The pilot arrangements this year are being fully evaluated by NISEAC, and whilst the findings are not yet available early feedback indicates that schools did not find the key stage 2 CAIs to be as onerous as expected.

The key stage 1 CAIs, in English, mathematics and Irish in Irish-medium schools, will be piloted next year. Assessment at key stage 4 will be mainly via GCSE: the first year of the new arrangements at key stage 4 will be in 1995.