Last updated: 03 Mar 2006

QCA today published Authenticating Coursework: A teacher's guide. The leaflet provides advice for teachers who are marking coursework by offering suggestions of how they can reassure themselves that candidates have submitted their own work.

The coursework leaflet was produced by the QCA Coursework Taskforce, chaired by Sue Kirkham. The taskforce was set up following the publication of A review of GCE and GCSE coursework arrangements by QCA in November 2005. The taskforce membership included practising teachers, awarding bodies, schools, colleges, Ofsted, parents and the regulatory authorities together with other stakeholders.

Sue Kirkham, chair of the Coursework Taskforce, said:

"It is essential that teachers are given advice and guidance to ensure that they are able to mark coursework fairly and be able to detect if the work is not the candidate's own. We hope that teachers will keep and refer to this leaflet when marking coursework this year and in future. The list of suggestions included in the leaflet can be used by all teachers as a way to reassure themselves that the work that is submitted is candidate's own. Equally, it is important that teachers set and supervise coursework in the best possible way so we have provided suggestions for the future to ensure that teachers minimise the chance of candidate malpractice."

Ken Boston, Chief Executive of QCA, said:

"It is important that teachers are rigorous in their marking of coursework. This guidance provides some excellent suggestions to ensure that teachers are able confidently and consistently to confirm the work is the candidate's own. This leaflet is an valuable resource for teachers."

Notes to editors

1. A copy of Authenticating Coursework: A teacher's guide can be found at
2. The members of the QCA Coursework Taskforce were from the following organisations: Alton College, Assessment and Qualifications Alliance (AQA), Ballymena Academy, Bath Spa University, Chingford Foundation School, Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA), Edexcel, General Teaching Council (GTC), Gosford Hill School, Harrow Teachers Centre, Holmfirth High School, Joint Council for Qualifications (JCQ), Nottingham Trent University, Oxford, Cambridge and RSA Examination (OCR), Ofsted, Plagiarism Advisory Council, Plessington Catholic Technology College, National Confederation of Parent Teacher Associations (NCPTA), Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales (ACCAC), Radyr Comprehensive School, Welsh Joint Education Committee (WJEC)
3. The main aim of the taskforce was to provide further guidance for teachers on authenticating coursework
4. For further information please contact the QCA press office on 020 7509 6789 or the out of hours duty officer on 07798 924 552
5. Customers should contact customer service on 020 7509 5556 for further information.