Schools facing a 'nightmare' as computer problems hit national tests

Schools are facing a 'nightmare' after national tests taken by more than a million children were hit by computer problems, headteachers warned today.

A new contractor took over the running of the SAT tests in England this year and officials have been inundated with calls from schools experiencing difficulties.

Furthermore, on Monday teachers were unable to enter their pupils' details on a crucial database that records which children took the English, maths and science tests.

Mick Brookes, general secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers, said the online register, which schools must fill in so markers know which pupils' work they will receive, broke down.

"Monday was what one head described as 'a nightmare'", Mr Brookes said.

Official guidance given to headteachers told them it was "extremely important" to complete the register as failure to do so could cause delays in marking and results being given back to schools.

The National Assessment Agency, the body responsible for overseeing the tests, said its helpline had received a large number of calls from headteachers experiencing problems.

A statement on the NAA website said: "The test operations agency helpdesk is currently experiencing a high number of calls. As a result, some callers cannot get through.

"If your call is about online attendance registers, we are aware that some schools are experiencing problems with accessing and submitting online attendance registers.

"We are currently investigating these problems and will provide further guidance as soon as it becomes available."

The new contractor running the tests this year is ETS Europe. The group introduced new measures intended to improve the quality of marking for the tests, taken by 11 and 14-year-olds.

But a separate fault hit the new online system for checking that individual markers were up to scratch.

On Sunday, the system told all markers going through the compulsory checks that they had failed because their work was inadequate. The problem was later fixed.

A spokesman for the NAA said: "NAA is confident that the external marking of the key stage statutory tests will be accurate and results will be returned to schools according to the published timetable.

"Where there have been any small localised administration arrangements which have caused a delay in marker training, these have been resolved and the individual markers contacted."