Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what discussions (a) she and (b) officials in her Department had with Ofqual in advance of the 2023 Standard Assessment Tests.

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) is an executive agency of the Department with responsibility for the development and delivery of National Curriculum tests and assessments. Ofqual regulate all National Curriculum assessments, which includes observing STA’s processes.

Key Stage 2 assessments are an important way of identifying pupils’ strengths and where they may have fallen behind as they head to secondary school. The STA independently develop these tests with questions rigorously trialled with Year 6 pupils and reviewed by education and inclusion experts to ensure appropriateness. Ministers have no involvement in test development or in the selection of the content of the test. Ministers do not have access to the test materials until they are published after the end of the timetable variation window, which is five school days after the scheduled test date. Ministers likewise have no involvement in the standards maintenance process which determines the threshold for the expected standard each year.

STA develops tests in line with the expectations in Ofqual’s regulatory framework for national assessments. Ofqual representatives observe key meetings and processes throughout the three year test development process. Following the conclusion of the test cycle for 2023, Ofqual will publish an annual report on National Curriculum assessment regulation activity. This will, among other areas, set out their view of the test development process for this year.

STA will continue to hold regular meetings with Ofqual to discuss the national assessments, and will continue to work with schools, pupils and parents to understand the views on this year’s papers.

Exam boards have no responsibility for National Curriculum assessments.