4 July 2008

We are sorry to advise that there will be a delay in schools being able to access their key stage test results online. These were scheduled for publication for both key stages on 8th July.

Schools will continue to receive marked scripts back in the post, but the online publication of key stage 2 results will be delayed until 15 July. Marking of key stage 3 results will not be complete by then, but available key stage 3 results will be released by the end of that week. This will enable as many schools as possible to have results before the end of term.

The arrangements for marking the national curriculum tests this year have been different from previous years. There is a new marking contractor, ETS Europe, and a series of additional checks to give greater assurance of high quality marking.

The main causes of this delay are the lateness in the completion of the marking process and a series of technical issues. This is a serious failure by ETS Europe for which we apologise to schools, pupils and parents.

We understand that this delay will inconvenience many schools, and we share their frustration and disappointment. The National Assessment Agency will take every measure at its disposal to ensure that all results are delivered as quickly as possible.

Frequently asked questions about the delay in the results to schools

1. When will schools now receive results?
Key stage 2 schools will receive their results on 15 July and all key stage 3 results which are available will be released by the end of that week. This will enable as many schools as possible to have results before the end of term. All results will be available from the Test orders website.

2. Why are the national curriculum tests results for key stage 2 and key stage 3 being delayed?
The main causes of this delay are the late completion of the marking process and a series of technical issues. Ministers decided that there is an unacceptably high number of schools that will not receive a complete set of results on 8 July and in the best interest of schools, they have decided to delay the return of results.

3. Why has marking not progressed as expected?
There was a delay in providing markers with scripts following their marker training meetings. This delayed the start of marking. Difficulties with the new marker systems caused further delays to marking and the electronic capture of results. The National Assessment Agency will take every measure at its disposal to ensure that all results are delivered as soon as possible.

4. How many schools are affected by the delay?
Unfortunately all schools will be inconvenienced by these delays. The NAA is taking every measure at its disposal to ensure that all results are delivered as planned.

5. How many scripts have been completely marked?
More than 90% of scripts are marked. The main subject affected by the delay is English.

6. Will we still receive our marked scripts on 8 July?
Over 12,000 schools have now received their marked scripts for all subjects. Marked scripts are being returned to schools as soon as they are available so that schools have these as early as possible. A packing list is included within one of the boxes in your script consignment for you to check the number of boxes received.

If you have missing scripts, you will receive notification of this directly from ETS Europe following results day. Please note, that your script consignment does not include paper marksheets.

7. What should schools do with their returned scripts until the results are available?
Schools are advised to check they have received all their scripts against the packing list and to store them securely until results are released before scrutinising the papers. Some schools and local authorities have contacted us to ask if they can use the level threshold tables available on www.naa.org.uk/tests to interpret results based on their marked scripts. We do not expect or advise schools to do this. If your school chooses to apply the level threshold tables against marked scripts, please note that you will be using unconfirmed provisional data.

8. Should headteachers work out levels using the level threshold tables?
Schools are advised to wait for their results to be published on the Test orders website.

9. How do I report to parents when I do not have any results available?
The statutory requirement for headteachers is to report national curriculum test results to parents by the end of the summer term or, where the results are not received by a headteacher until after the end of the summer term, they must be reported to parents within 15 school days of being received. In the meantime, schools should report the teacher assessment levels to parents and explain that the test results will be shared with them as soon as they are available. For more information please read section 13.2 of the Assessment and reporting arrangements.

Some schools have contacted us to ask if they can use the unconfirmed levels gained through applying the level threshold tables to marked scripts for reporting to parents. We do not expect or advise schools to do this. If schools choose to do this, they must make clear this is unconfirmed, provisional data.

10. Secondary schools will expect the end of key stage 2 results as part of the transfer data. Will this be possible if results are not returned until 15 July?
Until results are available, primary schools should use teacher assessment levels when providing transfer information to secondary schools. Secondary schools will be aware that there is a delay in the release of end of key stage test results. Some schools have contacted us to ask if they can use the unconfirmed levels gained through applying the level threshold tables to marked scripts for sending information on to secondary schools. We do not expect or advise schools to do this. If schools choose to do this, they must make clear this is unconfirmed, provisional data.

11. Does the delay in results being released mean that the deadline for submission of teacher assessment has changed?
No. The deadline for the submission of teacher assessments is 11 July and schools should ensure they submit these as soon as possible. Some local authorities may collect the teacher assessments and P scales data on behalf of their schools. In this instance, the local authority will have contacted schools directly to discuss local arrangements and may have set earlier local deadlines. Where local authorities have not contacted schools to arrange collection, it is the school's responsibility to submit all teacher assessments and P scales data by 11 July. All teacher assessments, including key stage 3 non-core subjects and P scales data, should be submitted at pupil level on the Test orders website. Guidance on submitting teacher assessments is provided in the 'Teacher assessment factsheet' located in the 'Help' section of the Test orders website at naa.org.uk/tests.

12. What is the revised deadline for requesting reviews?
The late publication of national curriculum test results means that the deadline for schools to submit reviews is no longer 18 July 2008. Schools have been receiving the Reviews guidance for schools this week with the revised timelines inserted as an A4 sheet. The revised Reviews guidance for schools is also available to download from the 'Latest Publications' section of the NAA website at www.naa.org.uk/tests. Schools must wait for both results and a complete set of scripts before making an application for a review.

Schools are encouraged wherever possible to make applications for reviews by the end of term. This would allow the reviews to be carried out during August, with outcomes available by the original published deadline of 12 September 2008. Schools are not however expected to complete review applications outside of term time and where schools are unable to submit review applications before 25 July, then requests should be submitted by 10 September 2008.

With respect to English reviews, this is the first year that schools are able to apply for a review if it would change either:

• the English reading level only or
• the English writing level only or
• the overall English level or
• a combination of the above.

For English reviews, schools must decide whether they wish to apply for a review of marking for English reading or English writing. These must be made using separate application forms. If schools wish to, they may apply for a review of English reading and a review of English writing, but these must be made using separate application.

13. What is being done to ensure that schools will receive their results as soon as possible?
ETS Europe has established a number of marker panels where markers work onsite and scripts can be marked as quickly as possible.

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