§ Mr. CousinsTo ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, how many cases of irregularities with SATs results and tests were reported to the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in each local education authority in(a) 2000, (b) 2001 and (c) 2002 to 10 October; and how many investigations were carried out by the QCA into these reports. [80049]
§ Mr. MilibandThe Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) has made a concerted effort to raise awareness of the need to report every event, which could lead to an allegation of malpractice or maladministration in national tests. This has led to an increase in the number of events reported. All such reports are logged, but not all merit further investigation. Reports which do not normally require further investigation would include, for example, where a school has received its test pack with the external sealing damaged.
The total number of events reported to the QCA and investigated by the QCA in each of the last three years is as follows:
2000 2001 2002 Events reported to QCA 147 270 479 Cases investigated by QCA 47 59 96 The breakdown of these totals by Local Education Authority is still being compiled. I shall write to my hon. Friend with this information when it becomes available and place a copy in the library.