Press release

Key stage 2 testing, assessment and accountability review: progress report published

The Department for Education publishes progress report of the independent review into key stage 2 testing and assessment.

From:
Department for Education and The Rt Hon Michael Gove MP
Published
5 April 2011
This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

The Department for Education today published the progress report of the independent review into Key Stage 2 testing, assessment and accountability.

The report summarises the evidence submitted to a small review panel during a 12-week call for evidence. The review is chaired by the cross-bench peer Lord Bew.

The panel received nearly 4,000 online responses and about 100 written submissions, and took evidence directly from around 50 stakeholders. Its recommendations for testing and assessment at the end of primary school will be in a final report this summer.

Education Secretary Michael Gove ordered the review to see how the current system of Key Stage 2 testing, assessment and accountability can be improved.

Michael Gove said:

I have asked Lord Bew to review how the testing, assessment and accountability system can be improved, particularly in light of the concerns of head teachers and teachers. I am grateful to those who have given evidence to the review. I would like to thank Lord Bew and the panel for this progress report. I look forward to considering the panel’s findings in the summer.

Lord Bew said:

This progress report gives a picture of the range of evidence and opinion submitted to the review. There is no attempt to draw conclusions at this early stage; this will be the task of the final report. We would particularly like to thank all those who have given evidence. We are very grateful for the way in which people have conveyed their opinions, often strongly held. We will be sure to consider these in full as we move towards the final recommendations.

Notes to Editors

  1. The progress report can be downloaded from the Department for Education’s website.

  2. Lord Bew is a cross-bench peer, Professor of Irish Politics at Queen’s University in Belfast, and a Member of Royal Irish Academy (MRIA). He was a historical adviser to the Saville Inquiry from 1998 to 2001.

  3. Membership of the panel in full is: * Lord Bew - Chairman * Miriam Rosen - Former Executive Director, Ofsted * Ruth Miskin - Founder, Read-Write Inc. and former primary headteacher * Greg Wallace - Executive Principal of Best Start Federation in Hackney * Helen Clegg OBE - Headteacher, Shiremoor Primary School in North Tyneside * Kate Dethridge - Headteacher, Churchend Primary School in Reading * Lubna Khan - Headteacher, Berrymede Junior School in Ealing * Tim Sherriff - Headteacher, Westfield Community School in Wigan * Sally Coates - Principal, Burlington Danes Academy in West London

  4. Representatives of Ofsted and Ofqual are acting as observers.

  5. The terms of reference for the review can be downloaded from the Review website.

DfE enquiries

Central newsdesk - for journalists 020 7783 8300

General enquiries - for members of the public 0370 000 2288

Published 5 April 2011

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