Government expels ICT school exam

Ministers have abandoned plans to make a single computer test for 14 year-olds compulsory.

The aim of the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) online test, which was developed by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA), was to allow pupils to be assessed separately on their ITC skills alongside the existing tests in English, maths and science.

The results would form part of a schools’ performance and be published in the league tables.

However although it has already been tested in 1,750 secondary schools across England and and was due to be integrated into the key stage three (KS3) curriculum in 2008 there has been stiff opposition form teachers.

They claimed it would add too much to their workloads and the QCA has now reassessed the decision to mark the tests separately.

A QCA spokesman said: "We took on board the comment from teachers as well as our own research, and decided that it would be better to concentrate on integrating the ICT test into a range of other subjects rather than the compulsory test we had been suggesting.

"By changing the way the assessment will be done, we hope to take the burden off teachers, who are already tied up with primary topics such as English, Maths and Science, but still help children get to grips with ITC.

This decision by the QCA was also welcomed by the Association of School and College Leaders .

"We had many reports of difficulty from head teachers who were piloting the ICT software. Not only was the interface difficult to navigate but we were also getting reports that the software was interfering with everyday applications,"  Martin Ward, deputy general secretary for the ASCL told Computeractive.

"This put additional pressure on teachers who, not only had to spend their time learning the software, but also make sure that pupils understood it, and this was before the subject could even be taught," he said.

Ward does not, however, believe that e-assessment should be looked down upon.

"Despite the problems many reported we did have some reports from schools who did master the software and were pleased with it. This is why we believe continuing with the pilot scheme is the sensible way forward.

"By doing this it will raise the possibility of moving towards e-assessment where those taking exams can do them when and where they are ready rather than being stuck to a set time, date and place."

This is also a view shared by Greg Watson, chief executive of UK awarding body OCR, who said: "OCR believes that e-assessment offers great opportunities to transform assessment but this episode makes it clear that what is needed is a consistent, research-led, approach that engages at all stages with teachers and learners.”

After the advice from the QCA, the Department for Education and Skils (DfES) released a statement, in which stated: "Our main priority is raising standards in ICT and we have decided that testing for progression is the best way of achieving this.

"The test is a pioneering online e-assessment and has huge potential to be used more flexibly throughout the key stage. We will be revising the test and more detailed advice will be sent to schools in the next few weeks."

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