These frequently asked questions are to help schools and local authorities use the NCA tools website. Schools must use this website throughout the 2012 Key Stage 2 National Curriculum test cycle to:

  • order tests;
  • apply for access arrangements to help children access the tests;
  • register children for the tests;
  • submit teacher assessment data; and
  • access test results.

Local authorities can also use the website to support schools.

 
 Can I change my NCA tools password?

Yes. You can change your password at any time throughout the test cycle. To do this:

  • log in to the NCA tools website
  • select the 'Change your password' link on the homepage
  • enter your current password in the space provided
  • enter your new password and confirm by re-entering in the space provided
  • click on the ‘Change password’ button.

If you have forgotten your password:

  • click on the 'Create new password' link in the 'Log in' feature box on the homepage
  • enter your registered email address and press 'Submit'
  • go to the inbox for your registered email address and click on the link contained within the email sent from assessments@education.gov.uk
  • in this new window, enter your new password, confirm this password by entering it a second time and click 'Submit and log in'.

To make sure you receive emails from the NCA tools website, please ensure your ICT department accepts all email addresses ending in 'education.gov.uk'. If your system cannot be amended to accept all emails from STA, please ensure that assessments@education.gov.uk is added to your organisation's safe senders email list. Including these email address on the safe senders email list will allow emails to be sent straight through to recipients and not blocked by spam filters.

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 Can I change school users throughout the test cycle?

Yes. Headteachers and local authority super users can add and delete users at any time throughout the test cycle. There can be a maximum of five users at each school or local authority at any one time, however the same users do not need to remain active for the length of the test cycle. 

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 How can I find out my NCA tools registered email address?

Headteachers

The headteacher’s registered email address is the one STA currently has on file, used to access the NCA tools website in 2010/11.

If you do not know your registered email address, please send an email to assessments@education.gov.uk requesting confirmation of your registered email address. We will then be able to change the registered headteacher email address for your school if required, using the email address you supplied in your email.

You will receive an automated email message containing a link that will allow you to create a password of your choice and gain access to the NCA tools website. If you are unable to access your email account, please contact the National Curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013.

Local authority super user

If you are unable to access your email account, please email us at: assessments@education.gov.uk or contact the national curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013.

Nominated user

Headteacher and local authority super users will be able to advise nominated users of their account details.

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 How many nominated user accounts can I create?

Headteachers and local authority super users are able to create up to four additional users. Each school or local authority can therefore have five users: the headteacher or local authority super user and up to four additional users. Nominated users cannot create new accounts.

It is important when nominating users, to specify whether the user will have access to the access arrangements module when this module opens.

You can do this by selecting the 'Nominated user +AA' option in the 'User group drop down menu. If you do not wish to have access to this module, please select the 'Nominated user' option.

Careful consideration should be given when making this decision, as permitting access to the access arrangements module will allow the user access to highly sensitive pupil level data.

Headteacher and local authority super users should review nominated users with access to the NCA tools website to ensure that they are still working at the organisation. 

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 I have been nominated as a user, when will I receive my NCA tools password?

When a user is nominated, an email confirming that their account has been set up will be sent. This email will contain the user’s password and will be emailed to the registered email address within one hour.

If it has been more than two hours and you have not yet received your password, this may be because the email address provided by your headteacher or local authority super user was incorrect. Please speak to your headteacher or local authority super user to confirm the accuracy of your email address.

It could also be that your system is not currently set up to receive our emails. To make sure you receive emails from the NCA tools website, please ensure your ICT department accepts all email addresses ending in 'education.gov.uk'. If your system cannot be amended to accept all emails from STA, please ensure that　assessments@education.gov.uk is added to your organisation's safe senders email list. Including these email address on the safe senders email list will allow emails to be sent straight through to recipients and not blocked by spam filters.

If you have tried all the suggestions above but you have still not received your password, please contact the National curriculum assessments helpline on 0300 303 3013. 

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 I have forgotten my NCA tools password, can I get a new one?

If you have forgotten your password:

  • click on the 'Create new password' link in the 'Log in' feature box on the homepage
  • enter your registered email address and press 'Submit'
  • go to the inbox for your registered email address and click on the link contained within the email sent from assessments@education.gov.uk
  • in this new window, enter your new password, confirm this password by entering it a second time and click 'Submit and log in'.
  • To make sure you receive emails from the NCA tools website, please ensure your ICT department accepts all email addresses ending in 'education.gov.uk'. If your system cannot be amended to accept all emails from STA, please ensure that assessments@education.gov.uk is added to your organisation's safe senders email list. Including these email address on the safe senders email list will allow emails to be sent straight through to recipients and not blocked by spam filters.
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     My details have changed, can I edit them?

    Yes. On the Manage your profile page, all users can edit their own details.

    Navigate to the details that correspond to you and click on the ‘Edit details’ button. Change any or all of the details and select ‘Submit’. 

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     My password is not working. How do I log in?

    All passwords from the 2010/11 test cycle have expired. You will need to create a new password for the 2011/12 test cycle by clicking on 'Create new password' on the homepage. 

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     What can I do on the NCA tools website?

    On the NCA tools  website you can:

    • order Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and optional tests
    • apply for access arrangements (Key Stage 2)
    • register pupils (Key Stage 2)
    • submit teacher assessment information (Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3)
    • access pupil results (Key Stage 2). 
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     What do I need to log in to the NCA tools website?

    To log in to the NCA tools website you will need your registered email address and password. The first time headteachers or local authority super users log in, they will need to 'Create a new password'. All passwords from the 2011 test cycle have now expired so you will need to change it the first time you log in. You will need to enter your registered email address and select 'Submit'. You will then be sent an email with a link that will allow you to create a password of your choice. The email may not arrive immediately – you do not need to submit your email address more than once. 

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     What is my NCA tools password?

    First time logging in

    If you are a headteacher or local authority super user, you will need to create a new password before you log in for the first time. To create a new password:

    • go to www.education.gov.uk/ncatools
    • click on the 'Create new password' link in the 'Log in' feature box on the homepage
    • enter your registered email address and press 'Submit'
    • go to the inbox for your registered email address and click on the link contained within the email sent from assessments@education.gov.uk (this may take several minutes to be sent)
    • after clicking on the link, in the new window, enter your new password, confirm this password by entering it a second time and click 'Submit and log in'. This password must be at least eight characters in length and include three of the following:
      • one upper case character (eg A, B, C)
      • one lower case character (eg a, b, c)
      • one numeric character (eg 1, 2, 3)
      • one special character (eg £, &, %, +, -).
    • You will also receive a second email confirming your password has been changed.

    If you have just been set up as a nominated user, your automatically generated password will have been sent to you in an email from STA after your account was created by your headteacher or local authority super user. This email will be sent to the email address used for your username. You will be required to change your password at first login. If you have not yet received an email, it is likely that your account has not been successfully created. Please speak with your headteacher or local authority super user to rectify this in the first instance.

    Not first time logging in

    When logging in for the first time you will have been prompted to change your password. This password must be at least eight characters in length and include three of the following:

    • one upper case character (eg A, B, C)

    • one lower case character (eg a, b, c)
    • one numeric character (eg 1, 2, 3)
    • one special character (eg £, &, %, +, -).

    If you cannot remember your password, please click on the 'Create new password' option on the NCA tools website homepage.

    When returning to the NCA tools website for the 2012 test cycle, you will be required to change your password on your first log in. All passwords have expired.

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     What is my registered email address?

    Your unique email address that was used to log in to the NCA tools website throughout the 2010/11 test cycle.

    This email address must not be a web-based public email address such as Gmail, Yahoo or Hotmail. All web-based email addresses have been deactivated. You will be able to change your personal details when you attempt to log in to the website for the first time in the 2011/12 test cycle with your existing email address and password. 

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     What makes a good NCA tools password?

    A good password is a password that you will remember for logging in to the NCA tools website throughout the test cycle. All passwords must be at least eight characters in length and include three of the following:

    • one upper case character (eg A, B, C)
    • one lower case character (eg a, b, c)
    • one numeric character (eg 1, 2, 3)
    • one special character (eg £, &, %).

    Passwords should not be shared with others. 

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