HC Deb 08 July 1996 vol 281 cc10-1W
Mr. Blunkett

To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment if she will make a statement on changes in the marking methodology for key stage 2 tests in English between 1995 and 1996. [35895]

Mr. Paice

The School Curriculum and Assessment Authority made a number of improvements this year to the external marking of the national curriculum tests at key stage 2. These included: increased training for markers; at least two checks of each markers' work at least twice; improved mark schemes; confirming the final level boundaries after a sample of actual scripts had been marked; and re-checking papers close to the level boundaries.

A number of improvements were also made to the tests themselves in the light of evaluation evidence from 1995 and in order to bring the tests into line with the revised national curriculum. For the key stage 2 English tests, the writing test marking criteria were updated and a broader range of marks was provided on the handwriting test. Pre-test procedures were put in place to ensure that the standard of performance required for the award of a level was consistent between 1995 and 1996.