4 April 2008

The NAA has extended the deadline to complete pupil registration until 25 April 2008. Also provided is further clarification on assigning tiers and Shakespeare plays, the bulk upload facility and online attendance registers.

Deadline extended for completing pupil registration

The deadline to complete pupil registration published in the Assessment and reporting arrangements (ARAs) is the end of March 2008 (end of January for independent schools). Given the difficulties that this deadline has caused some schools due to variable Easter holidays and pressure of other examination-related work, the deadline for completion of pupil registration has been extended until Friday 25 April 2008.

Action required by 25 April deadline

By 25 April 2008 it is essential that schools:

• check all pupils are registered and each pupil's name, date of birth, gender, pupil year and UPN are correct. All of this information can be checked by viewing the summary screen (there is no need to open individual pupil records)
• add any new pupils that are missing by adding pupils individually or as a group. (Please note that schools will have to assign a Shakespeare play to complete the registration of pupils registered individually)
• amend the details of any pupils whose information is incorrect.

At this stage, schools do not need to:

• assign tiers or Shakespeare plays to pupils; these tasks can be completed in the online attendance register between 28 April and 16 May 2008
• access pupils individually, unless details need to be amended
• add pupils who have already been included in the school's data upload from the 2008 DCSF school census. ETS Europe, the NAA's test operations agency, will add any pupils that have been missed and contact schools if they need to confirm the details.

If schools have already assigned subject tiers and Shakespeare plays to pupils, or chose to do so before attendance registers are available, this will save work at a later date.

If you have any questions regarding the actions required by 25 April, contact the test operations agency helpdesk on 0870 1614530.

Assigning tiers and Shakespeare plays

The NAA will use the pupil registration information provided by schools to create an online attendance register which will replace paper marksheets for 2008. Schools can use the online attendance registers to complete the assignment of tiers and allocate Shakespeare plays for pupils. The system for assigning tiers and the Shakespeare play in the online attendance register does not require you to open individual pupil records.

The online attendance register will be available from 28 April 2008 and must be completed by 16 May 2008.

Bulk upload facility

Independent schools must register pupils by 25 April 2008 to ensure pupils can sit the tests and their scripts can be marked, as there is no census data available for independent schools. The system has a bulk upload capability to make this task easier. This can also be used by maintained schools that have a number of additional pupils to register or that are using a compressed curriculum (ie tests are being taken by year 8 pupils).

Please note that the bulk upload facility is not available after Friday 25 April 2008 in the online attendance register.

Future improvements

The NAA and ETS Europe are aware that there are some areas for improvement within the Test orders website. The NAA will be working with exams officers and ETS Europe to improve and enhance systems and processes for the 2009 tests, including a means of bulk uploading subject tiers and Shakespeare plays from a spreadsheet.

If you have any queries about the pupil registration process please contact the test operations agency helpdesk on 0870 1614530 or email schools@testoperations.org.uk.

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