Hunt for 'high risk' marking head

By Gary Eason
BBC News website education editor

Last year the whole process went awry

England's qualifications authority is advertising for a head of marking - "a high risk activity" of national import.

The authority (QCA) and test contractor Edexcel say all seems well so far with this year's national curriculum tests.

Last year under a different company the marking process descended into a chaos of delayed and missing results.

The QCA post offers "£55,800 + attractive benefits" to oversee the safe delivery of the external marking of all national curriculum assessments.

A QCA spokesman said the post - and that of deputy head of marking, which is also being advertised - will be moved to Coventry with its headquarters relocation.

They were currently vacant but being covered by London-based staff.

"The recruitment is timed so that there will be a sufficient hand-over period to ensure no disruption occurs to the delivery of the tests."

'Unerring accuracy'

The job specification for the head of marking notes: "National assessment systems are under intense scrutiny by schools, government, the media and the general public and, in addition, the programmes are regulated by Ofqual.

You will ensure all scripts are marked on time and with unerring accuracy QCA job advert

"It is therefore essential that the QCA can provide robust evidence on the marking process, both in terms of quality and delivery, that the processes undertaken are in line with international best practice.

"The head of marking, therefore, has accountability for safe delivery of a high risk activity."

The advert says: "In the short term, you will ensure all scripts are marked on time and with unerring accuracy: in the longer term you will provide leadership as we strategically plan for the modernisation of the marking process."

The closing date is 30 May.

Meanwhile the QCA is closely monitoring this year's Key Stage 2 tests in English, maths and science taken last week by children aged 10 and 11 in their final year in England's primary schools.

'On schedule'

The organisation was blamed by the official inquiry into last year's fiasco for its part in the "massive failures". Its National Assessment Agency was disbanded and its chief executive resigned.

The tests taken by 14-year-olds were scrapped. The test firm, ETS Europe, had its contract terminated.

This year's tests are being delivered by one of the big exam boards, Edexcel.

An Edexcel spokeswoman said: "The national curriculum tests programme is well underway.

"Marker training has been delivered and the marking of pupil scripts has begun.

"We are currently on schedule to deliver results to schools in July."

Edexcel is not using systems that contributed to last year's problems, online registration by schools and routing scripts to and from markers via a central distribution point.

The scripts are being sent in the traditional fashion direct to the homes of the examiners, who mark them and send them back.