Policy and delivery

In 2008, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) and its contractor, ETS Europe, failed to deliver Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 National Curriculum tests on time. Lord Sutherland of Houndwood chaired an inquiry into the causes of the delivery failure (HC 62, session 2008-09, ISBN 9780102958393) and the Committee endorses his findings and recommendations. This inquiry looks closely at the role of the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) in the events leading up to the delivery failure. Micro-management by the DCSF placed undue constraints on QCA and led to confusion about the arrangements for delivery of the results. The Government must adopt a far less prescriptive approach when issuing instructions to the new Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency. Top officials of Government agencies must also be prepared to challenge Government if they are being asked to achieve the impossible. The report expresses serious concerns about the role of DCSF observers. Whilst they may have a legitimate role within QCA, observers should never exert undue influence over public bodies' decision-making. The presence of observers on the board of Ofqual, the independent regulator, is totally unacceptable; Ofqual's independence should be beyond question. The Committee reiterates its concerns about single-level tests. It believes new tests should not be introduced hastily. Serious challenges remain and the Government must ensure logistical arrangements are robust.