Markers hit by computer problems

Online mark capture requires each mark to be entered for every pupil

Some schools have not received their pupils' Sats results because markers are having trouble entering them online.

The markers have to put the marks into a web-based database set up by the test contractor, ETS - otherwise they do not get paid.

But problems with the system are preventing this.

Pauline Jones from Chichester, West Sussex, has been marking primary school maths papers for seven years.

Having been trained by ETS this year she waited for the test scripts to arrive so she could get on with the job.

What happened next illustrates some of the problems markers have been having.

Scripts collected

She had been told to expect 450 sets of scripts but received only eight from one school and 58 from another.

Before markers can start work, they are supposed to go onto an ETS website to complete what is known as "script verification" - but this was not available for the larger school.

The marked papers were collected by courier as scheduled. She noted on the sealed box that she had been unable to upload the marks onto the ETS website, as required, because she had not been able to complete the verification process.

"I indicated with a black marker pen that the scripts were marked but the marks were not captured," she said.

Contacted school

It was suggested by ETS that she write out the marks for each child on a special grid and enclose them with the marked scripts - but it was too late to do that.

"I had already made a note of the individual marks for each child so I completed the 58 grids and e-mailed them to ETS that afternoon, together with an explanatory message."

Later, when she heard the news about problems with the test results, she was so concerned she telephoned one of the schools, telling them - without giving her name - that she was their maths marker.

She found that the school had not had the marked papers returned to it, nor had it been able to access its pupils' marks.

"I wonder whether the scripts and e-mailed marks will ever be reconciled," she said.

A spokeswoman for ETS said that early on in the marking process there had been some "technical and operational issues" of this type.

"ETS very much regrets the delay in returning results to schools and we apologise to parents, schools and pupils for the inconvenience this has caused.

"ETS is currently working very hard to complete the outstanding marking and data input so that all remaining schools can receive their full marks as soon as possible."

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