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Our role in tests and examinations
Through our subsidiary body, the National Assessment Agency (NAA), we ensure that the way assessment is delivered is fair, efficient and consistent. We are also leading the modernisation of the examinations system.
The NAA’s modernisation programme is looking at the public examinations system to improve the way awarding bodies work and communicate with schools and colleges. The programme is also reviewing the security of scripts in transit, the training and tools available to examinations officers and the quality and reliability of marking.
The NAA also manages the delivery and content of the national curriculum tests and tasks, which pupils take at the end of key stages 1, 2 and 3, at around 7, 11 and 14 years of age. We work with teachers and parents to produce a framework that helps schools assess what pupils have learnt from the national curriculum and measure their progress and growth in understanding over the years.
QCA assures the quality and standards of external examinations and the national curriculum tests. We also provide advice to the government about assessment issues.
‘Working as an exams officer is new to me, so I rely on the NAA to keep me informed and efficient.’Maria only started working as an examinations officer at her large specialist school just over a year ago, after six years at a building society. She is enthusiastic about working alongside the NAA. Soon after she started her new job, Maria attended one of the NAA regional conferences for new examinations officers, which gave her all the basic information she needs to run an efficient and effective examinations office. She gained plenty of tips about developing good practices and saving time – particularly during the busy summer period – from experienced examinations officers and from the awarding bodies who attended the conferences. She has been keeping up to date with the NAA’s plans to modernise the examinations system, and is looking forward to being freed from some of the more manual elements of her job, such as filling in different forms for each awarding body. She downloads or orders hard copies of documents that help her with her work, such as the latest assessment timetables and information for invigilators and teachers. |