Each year the National Assessment Agency (NAA) invites a professional research agency to carry out an independent evaluation of teachers’ views of the national curriculum tests. The evaluation is undertaken in May, after the tests have been taken in schools, and in July, just before schools receive their marked scripts back. This ensures comments are up to date.

This year the NAA contracted Market & Opinion Research International (MORI) to undertake this work. MORI’s Social Research Institute set out to explore teachers’ perceptions of the quality and fitness for purpose of the key stage 1, 2 and 3 test and task materials. This forms part of the NAA’s checks on the standard of the test and task material. MORI also asked questions on the administration arrangements for the tests that will help NAA plan improvements to its processes.

There were three strands to MORI’s research. A postal survey was sent to 1200 schools (with a response rate of 45 per cent), and a telephone survey was undertaken with 420 out of a possible 600 schools (a 70 per cent response rate). A series of focus groups was held to question the results of the surveys in more detail.

MORI have analysed this research and produced a report on the findings for each key stage. Each report is accompanied by a brief NAA commentary, which explains the background to the issues discussed, and provides an update on the work taking place to address the issues raised.