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New exams watchdog moves to stop meddling by ministers
Tim Ross, Education Correspondent23 Jul 2009
Misisters could be stripped of their powers over exam standards amid concern that the Government has undermined school tests.
The new exams watchdog, Ofqual, could ban government officials from attending its meetings in a radical attempt to assert its independence from Whitehall.
The Evening Standard has learned that the Ofqual board will consider the move as a matter of urgency when the regulator begins work on a permanent basis later this year.
The plan emerged as MPs warned that Government interference contributed to last year's Sats fiasco in which the test results of 1.2 million pupils were delayed.
The Commons education select committee condemned the practice of ministers sending officials to act as "observers" at meetings of the previous exams watchdog, the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority.
The MPs said: "We are concerned about the undue influence which appears to have been wielded by observers in terms of 'negotiating' formal advice from QCA to ministers and in seeking to influence QCA's decision-making.
"There should be no place for departmental observers within an independent regulator. The presence of observers on Ofqual's board would be totally inappropriate."
Ofqual has been working as a sub-group of the QCA while legislation to establish it as an independent body is passing through Parliament.
Kathleen Tattersall, chairwoman of Ofqual, said: "When we come to be a new body under legislation going through Parliament, that legislation does not require us to have observers from anywhere. It will be for the Ofqual board to decide whether we wish to have observers. That decision has got to be taken and we will have a mind to ensure that whatever decision we take does not undermine our own independence, nor undermine the perception of our independence. Perceptions are, of course, very important."
Children's Secretary Ed Balls established Ofqual in an attempt to end debates about whether A-levels and GCSEs have been "dumbed down".
The schools department today insisted it was right for government observers to attend Ofqual meetings.
A spokesman said: "This does not compromise Ofqual's independence. The observers cannot vote, and the decisions that Ofqual takes are rightly those of an independent regulator."
Reader views (5)
There's seems to be a total revamping of the educational system by New Labour weekly. Please would Ed and Yvette get out of the kitchen. Please return us to the old days when teachers expected revamps every few decades instead of every Monday. The U.K. educational system is a total mess, and you don't have to look beyond New Labour and Ed Balls for the cause.
- Phil Jones, London UK, 23/07/2009 16:43
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I bet Ed Balls made an outstanding prefect at school the trouble is he still thinks he is a prefect but that does not wash in the real world. Between him and 'little Yvette' they make a sound case for never electing the Labour Party into power ever again.
- Nick Holland, glasgow, 23/07/2009 14:32
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I've said it before; Balls by name ..
- Frank, Home Counties, England., 23/07/2009 13:54
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Bob, Cheam
I agree, but I wouldn't want to wish this particular idiot on any village. In addition, whilst he might look like an idiot, the problem is that he's actually quite a dangerous idiot. Perhaps we could send him to Luton, where Keith Price lives - he seems to be very fond of idiots!!!
- Malcolm, London, 23/07/2009 13:02
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Every time I see Ed Balls it reminds me that somewhere there's a village missing an idiot.
- Bob, Cheam, 23/07/2009 11:26
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