Key Stages 2 and 3 (Hansard, 25 October 1999)

HC Deb 25 October 1999 vol 336 cc741-2W 742W

§ Mr. Lidington
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many schools made representations to him in favour of revising the dates announced in June 1998 for the year 2000 statutory test dates for Key Stages 2 and 3; [94910]
(2) what date he decided to alter the dates announced in June 1998 for the year 2000 statutory tests for Key Stages 2 and 3; and on what date the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority issued Circular 040/99. [94911]

§ Jacqui Smith
Since the original test dates were published, a number of schools and some Local Education Authorities have made representations to the Department for Education and Employment and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in favour of revising the test dates for Key Stage 2 and 3 in 2000. David Hart, General Secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, supported the decision to move the test dates, recognising that the Government were responding positively to the genuine concerns of his members.
The decision to put back both the Key Stage 2 and 3 test dates by one week in the year 2000, was made on 14 July. Schools were notified by Circular 040/99 issued by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority on 16 July which reached schools by 20 July.

§ Mr. Lidington
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Employment (1) how many schools have been granted a timetable variation in respect of the year 2000 statutory test dates for(a) Key Stage 2 and (b) Key Stage 3; which alternative weeks have been offered to those schools; and how many schools have been offered which alternative weeks; [94909]
(2) how many schools have applied for a timetable variation for the year 2000 statutory test dates for (a) Key Stage 2 and (b) Key Stage 3 which were announced in circular 040/99 in July; and how many of those applications have been agreed by the Qualifications Curriculum Authority. [94912]

§ Jacqui Smith
This is a matter for the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. I have asked the Chief Executive to write to the hon. Member and to place a copy of his letter in the Library.