HC Deb 21 July 1994 vol 247 cc578-9W
Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education which schools are being invited to comment on his proposals for assessment and testing outlined in the letter from the Department of Further Education to selected schools on 1 July 1994.

Mr. Robin Squire

All schools are welcome to comment on my right hon. Friend's proposals for the testing and assessment arrangements of seven, 11 and 14-year-olds next year, which he announced on 1 July. A random sample of 484 maintained schools were specifically invited to do so.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what is the closing date for responses to the proposals on assessment and testing sent to selected schools on 1 July.

Mr. Robin Squire

The closing date for all responses, from schools and other interested bodies, is 27 July.

Mrs. Ann Taylor

To ask the Secretary of State for Education what are his reasons for proposing to end the mandatory external audit of teachers' own assessment of classroom work associated with key stage testing.

Mr. Robin Squire

My right hon. Friend has proposed the end of the mandatory external audit of teachers' own assessments of the classroom work of seven-year-olds in response to concerns expressed by teachers about the workload involved. Existing co-operative arrangements and the proposed continuing mandatory external audit of teachers' marking of national curriculum tests will provide teachers with a cross-check of their own assessments of their pupils' work.