Written answers

Tuesday, 18 July 2006

Education and Skills
Sats

Robert Key (Salisbury, Conservative)
To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what guidance his Department offers schools on (a) the allocation of extra time for certain pupils in the SATS testing regime and (b) the criteria which should be applied in such cases; how the allocation of extra time across the country is monitored and assessed; and if he will make a statement.

Kim Knight (Minister of State (Schools), Department for Education and Skills)
Additional time is among the access arrangements available in the National Curriculum tests to enable children to take those tests on an equal footing. The circumstances in which pupils may be allowed additional time are set out in the "Assessment and reporting arrangements" booklets published by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority. These are sent to schools in October each year and are available from the website www.naa.org.uk/tests. The arrangements are monitored through the requests for permission for allowing additional time made by schools to local authorities and the National Assessment Agency, and in the routine monitoring of test administration undertaken by local authorities and the National Assessment Agency.