This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/education/7603082.stm
The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Previous version
1
Next version
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Balls hints at end to Sats tests | |
(about 21 hours later) | |
The Sats tests could end next year, Schools Secretary Ed Balls has hinted. | The Sats tests could end next year, Schools Secretary Ed Balls has hinted. |
They may be replaced by assessments tailored to the ability of each child, he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. | They may be replaced by assessments tailored to the ability of each child, he told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show. |
The national tests are taken by about one million children aged seven, 11 and 14 across England each May, but this year's marking was a "fiasco", he said. | The national tests are taken by about one million children aged seven, 11 and 14 across England each May, but this year's marking was a "fiasco", he said. |
A five-year contract with ETS Europe was scrapped after it failed to get papers marked in time, and the next contract will be for one year only. | A five-year contract with ETS Europe was scrapped after it failed to get papers marked in time, and the next contract will be for one year only. |
"The current system is not set in stone," said Mr Balls. | "The current system is not set in stone," said Mr Balls. |
"We are looking currently at a way in which we could assess progress child by child with individual level tests where the tests would be chosen in a way which was right for the child, rather than everybody doing the same test on the same day. | "We are looking currently at a way in which we could assess progress child by child with individual level tests where the tests would be chosen in a way which was right for the child, rather than everybody doing the same test on the same day. |
"For 2009, we are going to do the same kind of tests as in previous years before the problems with ETS, but for the long term I am really keen to get this right, to listen." | "For 2009, we are going to do the same kind of tests as in previous years before the problems with ETS, but for the long term I am really keen to get this right, to listen." |
Inquiry | Inquiry |
The new exams would still be marked externally, Mr Balls added, at least for children leaving primary school. | The new exams would still be marked externally, Mr Balls added, at least for children leaving primary school. |
ETS apologised to pupils, parents and schools for the delays, which meant some pupils began their summer holidays without knowing their marks. | ETS apologised to pupils, parents and schools for the delays, which meant some pupils began their summer holidays without knowing their marks. |
But it maintained quality of marking was not affected. | But it maintained quality of marking was not affected. |
An independent inquiry into the delays is due to report back in the autumn. | An independent inquiry into the delays is due to report back in the autumn. |
Previous version
1
Next version