National Assessment Agency
Encyclopedia
The National Assessment Agency (NAA) was, until December 2008, a subsidiary unit of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
(QCA), an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) of the Department for Education and Skills (now the Department for Education
) in the United Kingdom
. The agency was based on Bolton Street in west London
.
, previously undertaken by the QCA to whom they are accountable.
and A-level examinations in England and Wales.
, the then Secretary of State for Education and Skills
stated that the separation of these two roles, made possible by the creation of the new agency, would decrease what was regarded by the government as conflicting responsibilities.
Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
The Qualifications and Curriculum Development Agency is an exempt charity, and an executive non-departmental public body of the Department for Children, Schools and Families...
(QCA), an Executive Non-Departmental Public Body (NDPB) of the Department for Education and Skills (now the Department for Education
Department for Education
The Department for Education is a department of the UK government responsible for issues affecting people in England up to the age of 19, including child protection and education....
) in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. The agency was based on Bolton Street in west London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
History
First announced in November 2003, the agency was not officially launched until April 2004. The agency took over the delivery and administration of the National Curriculum Tests in EnglandEngland
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, previously undertaken by the QCA to whom they are accountable.
Functions
As well as being responsible for the national curriculum tests, the agency worked work with examination bodies in further reforms of the GCSEGeneral Certificate of Secondary Education
The General Certificate of Secondary Education is an academic qualification awarded in a specified subject, generally taken in a number of subjects by students aged 14–16 in secondary education in England, Wales and Northern Ireland and is equivalent to a Level 2 and Level 1 in Key Skills...
and A-level examinations in England and Wales.
Examination reforms
The agency claimed that it would modernise the examination system, for which it was given a remit from the government of £100m. The remit covered a two year period from 2004 to 2006. The NAA's Managing Director was David Gee. He was forced to leave on 16 December 2008.Administration of tests
Whilst the NAA took over the administrative task of test delivery, QCA retained their role in regulating testing standards. Prior to the launch of the NAA, Charles ClarkeCharles Clarke
Charles Rodway Clarke is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Norwich South from 1997 until 2010, and served as Home Secretary from December 2004 until May 2006.-Early life:...
, the then Secretary of State for Education and Skills
Secretary of State for Education and Skills
The Secretary of State for Education is the chief minister of the Department for Education in the United Kingdom government. The position was re-established on 12 May 2010, held by Michael Gove....
stated that the separation of these two roles, made possible by the creation of the new agency, would decrease what was regarded by the government as conflicting responsibilities.
External links
- Official site
- Ministerial statement by Charles Clarke explaining the role of the NAA, November 2003.
- Press release by QCA announcing the launch of the NAA, April 2004.