Inquiry into 2008 national curriculum tests

Ofqual's chair Kathleen Tattersall today said:

"Ofqual is disappointed that the National Assessment Agency (NAA) will not deliver key stage 2 and 3 national curriculum test results on time to schools this year. Pupils and teachers work hard throughout the year and it is unacceptable that they have been let down in this way.

"Ofqual will now set up an inquiry into marking and the related processes of the 2008 national curriculum tests and I intend to invite an independent expert to lead this. The findings of this inquiry will be published later in the year."

Notes to editors:

1. Ofqual in its interim form is a part of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). On 2 April 2008 Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families, announced that the government intended to legislate to make Ofqual a separate statutory authority reporting directly to Parliament.

2. Ed Balls, Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and John Denham, Secretary of State for Innovation, Universities and Skills, announced the appointment of Kathleen Tattersall as Chair of Ofqual on 2 April 2008. Prior to legislation being passed to establish Ofqual on a statutory basis, Kathleen Tattersall is a QCA Board member and Chair of its Ofqual committee.

3. You can read a letter from Kathleen Tattersall to Ed Balls. 

4. You can read a statement from the National Assessment Agency (opens in new window) and a statement from the DCSF (opens in new window).

5. To find out more about Ofqual contact the press office newsdesk on 0300 303 3342 or the out-of-hours duty press officer on 07798 924 552. Members of the public should contact the Ofqual helpline on 0300 303 3346. Or there are alternative ways to contact us.