'Unacceptable' delay hits test results for 1.2 million children

Ministers have been forced to delay the national test results of 1.2 million children because widespread marking problems have left more than one in 10 papers unmarked.

The results of 9.5 million SATs papers taken by all state school pupils aged 11 and 14 in England were to be published on Tuesday. But Ed Balls, the Secretary of State for Schools, yesterday took the unprecedented step of delaying the entire cohort of results for at least a week and announced an inquiry into the fiasco.

In a letter to the chairman of the Commons Schools Select Committee, Mr Balls described the delay as "clearly unacceptable". He said that an inquiry would be conducted by "an independent individual of national standing" who will report to Ofqual, the fledgling exams regulator, and directly to Mr Balls.

The delay is acutely embarrassing for the Government, which was warned months ago about problems with this year's test marking. Parents are supposed to be told their children's results before schools break up for the summer in less than three weeks. Examiners had been working round the clock in emergency centres, and maths specialists have been asked to help with a backlog of English papers over the weekend. But Mr Balls has been forced to concede that not all results will be available.

This year's tests are being marked for the first time by ETS Europe, which was awarded the 156m, five-year contract last year.

England's National Assessment Agency (NAA), which oversees the testing, also apologised yesterday to schools after it revealed that, as of Thursday, 10 per cent of the key stage 2 tests - taken by 11-year-olds at the end of primary school - had not been marked. The marking of key stage 3 tests, taken by 14-year-olds, is even further from completion. The problems affect all three subjects tested - English, maths and science - but are worst in key stage 3 English where only about 60 per cent have been marked.

The results are needed to build the league tables rating schools according to pupils' success in the tests. The Government continues to defend national testing despite widespread criticism.

Ministers say managing the marking contract was the responsibility of the NAA and the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. Jim Knight, the Schools minister, said he had been warned only on Wednesday that the deadline might not be reached. "As far as the department is concerned, we acted swiftly, as have Ofqual," he said. "It is only this week that the scale of the problem emerged. Why that was will be the subject of the inquiry but clearly it is right that the NAA has apologised."

But Michael Gove, the Conservative education spokesman, said: "I warned Ed Balls about this unfolding debacle in Parliament. Ministers cannot evade responsibility for the damage done to the credibility of Britain's exam system." David Laws, Liberal Democrat education spokesman, said marking of this year's tests was "a complete and utter shambles".

Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, called for the abolition of the tests. "Solving this particular shambolic episode in the testing system won't solve its inherent fundamental flaws."

Dr John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said: "This is further evidence that the high- stakes testing regime in England has become too extensive and unmanageable. The tests should be downgraded to an internal check on student progress."

What are SATs?

The Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) are taken bychildren aged seven, 11 and 14. Seven-year-olds are assessed by teachers but 11- year-olds and 14-year-olds sit tests used to judge schools. Eleven- year-olds take over five hours of tests in English, maths and science, while 14-year-olds take up to eight hours of tests on the same topics. Teachers also assess pupils' achievements in a range of other subjects including history, geography, languages, information and communication technology, art, music and RE.

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