Sixty fourth meeting of the Board of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority
Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, 16 July 2008 at the Chesterfield Hotel, London.
Present Members Sir Anthony Greener Chairman Mr Richard Greenhalgh Deputy Chairman Ms Kathleen Tattersall Chair, Ofqual Committee Dr Ken Boston Chief Executive Mr Mike Beasley Mr Nick Stuart Sir David Watson Mrs Sue Kirkham Mr David Sherlock Ms Cynthia Hall Mr Ian Ferguson Ms Maggie Galliers Professor Michael Arthur
Observers Ms Isabel Nisbet Acting CEO, Ofqual (in attendance for items 1–3 and 13–20) Ms Lesley Longstone Department for Children, Schools and Families Mr Stephen Marston Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills
Staff Mr David Gee Managing Director, NAA Ms Carol Copland Director, Legal and Corporate Affairs Mr Mick Waters Director, Curriculum Mr David Robinson Director, Communications and Marketing Mr Andrew Hall Director, Strategic Resource Management Ms Sue Georgious SRO, QCF Implementation Ms Teresa Bergin Head of Sector Skills Mr David Barrett Programme Manager Ms Mel Crook Business Manager Ms Claire Cantle Corporate Governance Coordinator
Apologies for absence
Sir James Rose Member Ms Jane Joyner Ofsted Mr Mike Clancy DCELLS Ms Mary Curnock Cook Director, Qualifications and Skills
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1. Minutes of the Board meeting on 21 May 2008
1.1 The Board approved the minutes of 21 May 2008.
2. Matters arising from 21 May 2008 minutes
2.1 The Chairman noted these would be covered during the meeting.
3. The Chief Executive’s Report
Susan Moore. 3.1 The Chief Executive, Ken Boston, advised members that Sue Moore, a long standing member of staff within QCA, had recently been awarded an MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list for services to education and the visually impaired.
3.2 The Board expressed their gratitude for her hard work and the Chair and Chief Executive agreed to meet with Sue in the near future to express their thanks.
A* 3.3 Acting CEO of Ofqual, Isabel Nisbet advised the Board that Ofqual were working in collaboration with QCA on this issue and were in technical discussions with Awarding Bodies.
3.4 The Board requested this be reported at the next meeting in September.
Early Years Foundation Stage Exemption 3.5 The Board noted that Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is to become statutory from September 2008 and section 46 of the Childcare Act makes provisions for exemptions from the learning and development requirements. Requests for exemption can be made where providers can demonstrate that the EYFS cannot be reconciled with an established principle held by the provider about the learning and development of children. A system of handling applications for exemption needs to be in place by the end of July.
3.6 QCA, and then QCDA, have been asked by DCSF to establish and maintain the process by which providers can apply for exemptions.
3.7 The Board discussed timeframes, capacity and recruitment. It was agreed this substantial piece of work required regular review. The question was raised as to QCA capacity to undertake this work in the light of other commitments.
3.8 Board members will receive a note on progress July/August and a status report at the next meeting in September.
Future of the NVQ 3.9 The Board noted that QCA, Ofqual and DIUS have agreed to remove regulatory criteria for NVQ's in the QCF.
3.10 The Board discussed the issue of bureaucracy in the context of NVQ's. The Board noted the activities being undertaken by QCA, Ofqual and DIUS to reduce the bureaucratic burden.
2 4. Acting CEO of Ofqual, Isabel Nisbet, and Ms Kathleen Tattersall, Chair, Ofqual Committee left the meeting.
5. National Curriculum Test Delivery 2008
5.1 Managing Director of the National Assessment Agency, David Gee, apologised for the current situation and updated the Board on the National Curriculum Test delivery for 2008.
5.2 The Board considered issues, obligations, expectations, planning and the forward test cycles. The Board emphasised that the service to the learner is the paramount consideration.
5.3 The Board raised concerns that the long standing decision to remove borderlining for the 2008 cycle onwards would be misunderstood and recommended clearer communication.
5.4 The Board noted the review period has been extended.
5.5 Two members of the Board were asked to review the reasons for the difficulties, and identify issues to be resolved for future cycles, for a Board teleconference on 5 August.
5.6 The Board asked that David Gee provide a further update at the September meeting.
6. Ms Kathleen Tattersall, Chair, Ofqual Committee returned to the meeting.
7. The implications of the Select Committee report on Testing and Assessment
7.1 Director of Curriculum, Mick Waters, highlighted some of the issues for QCA/QCDA arising from the inquiry and the Committee's recommendations including that greater prominence should be given to teacher assessment and that assessment instruments designed to promote personalised learning should not be made part of the accountability regime.
7.2 DCSF is expected to publish a response to the Select Committee Report in the near future.
7.3 The Board noted the paper and approved the development of a strategic plan to be shared with the Board at an early opportunity.
8. Primary Curriculum Review
8.1 Mick Waters, updated the Board of developments in the work the QCA has undertaken to support the Independent Review of the Primary Curriculum and tabled two papers (Evidence Summary Report and Curriculum Design: Proposals for Further Development). He drew Board Members attention to efforts to capture the characteristics of an effective curriculum collected under twelve emerging evidence themes.
8.2 The Board discussed the relationship between the curriculum design principles expressed and the current statutory framework. Mick Waters advised the Board of the Secretary of State Review Remit letter parameters, including possible changes to the design frameworks for subjects within the curriculum.
8.3 Mick Waters advised that further work is underway to develop detailed programmes of learning at school and pupil level.
3 8.4 The Board requested a further report at appropriate meetings.
9. QCF Implementation
9.1 Sue Georgious, SRO QCF Implementation, reported on the latest progress of the QCF implementation, meetings and critical documentation recently submitted to DIUS.
9.2 The Board emphasised the importance of QCF. The Board discussed aspects of the QCF that were still unknown.
9.3 The Board acknowledged that the QCA had delivered what was required by June 2008 but there was more still to do and governance of implementation was key. The possibility of an extended Programme Board was raised.
9.4 Ms Kathleen Tattersall, Chair, Ofqual Committee noted Ofqual support for QCF especially around engaging and involving Awarding Bodies.
9.5 The Board noted the partnership between QCA and DIUS in developing a full QCF implementation plan and that QCA will be producing a full business case for option 4 in September 2008, reflecting also the roles of other bodies (e.g. LSC and SSCs) in the overall development of QCF.
10. Diploma Situation Report
10.1 Teresa Bergin, Head of Sector Skills, Qualification and Skills division presented a paper on the Diploma programme and provided an update on recent developments.
10.2 Andrew Hall, Director, Strategic Resource Management, outlined recent findings from testing processes.
10.3 The Board considered a Freedom of Information Act request regarding a Board Diploma paper and considered all the issues. The Board thought it would not be in the public interest for the paper to be disclosed.
11. Acting CEO of Ofqual, Isabel Nisbet returned to the meeting.
12. Report from Ofqual Committee
12.1The Chair of the Ofqual Committee, Kathleen Tattersall, introduced Ofqual’s Committee Report and updated Members.
Appointments/Recruitment 12.2 The Board endorsed the appointment of John Townsley (a Head Teacher from Leeds) to the Ofqual Committee.
12.3 The Board were advised of the appointment of Fiona Pethick to the post of Director of Regulation at Ofqual (currently Director of Corporate Affairs at Ofwat) and that Ofqual had decided not to proceed with the Director of Standards position.
12.4 Ofqual's generic recruitment campaign in the Coventry area had produced a strong field of candidates and interviews were ongoing. A special induction process was being developed.
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12.5 The Ofqual Committee had recently approved Key Performance Indicators for Ofqual, these were being embedded into staff performance agreements.
Budget 12.6 Ofqual will review their budget mid year and discuss requirements with DCSF.
GCSE Maths 12.7 Kathleen Tattersall noted Ofqual's view that additional GCSE specifications in the same subject must be significantly different in terms of the knowledge or skills assessed. Each GCSE qualification must be valued and fully support an appropriate course of study.
Summer exams and tests 12.8 The Board were advised of Ofqual's Inquiry into delivery of the National Curriculum Tests and the following papers were circulated: • correspondence between the DCSF Secretary of State and Kathleen Tattersall regarding establishing an independent inquiry into NCT • correspondence from Kathleen Tattersall and the DCSF Secretary of State to Lord Sutherland regarding Ofqual and DCSF terms of reference
12.9 The Board were advised that staff from DCSF and Ofqual would support Lord Sutherland in his Inquiry. It was recognised that the preparation for the 2009 cycle would have to proceed in advance of recommendations from Lord Sutherland's report. However his findings, as far as possible, would feed into the 2009 tests and future testing cycles.
12.10 The Board were informed that Ofqual was regularly liaising with NAA around NCT quality issues and Ofqual and its predecessor had been monitoring the process from the start.
12.11 Correspondence from Kathleen Tattersall to the DIUS Secretary of State concerning QCF was tabled.
13. Relocation update
13.1 Andrew Hall provided a paper updating the Board on the Relocation programme. He noted that quality of applicants from Coventry was high and QCA were trying to actively mitigate risks around knowledge transfer.
14 Finance Report
14.1 Andrew Hall introduced QCA's Finance Report.
14.2 The Board noted the paper.
15 Report from Audit Committee
15.1 The Chair of QCA's Audit Committee, Nick Stuart, presented the Audit Committee’s Report.
15.2 The Board discussed QCA risk management and identification processes. Nick Stuart commented that both internal auditor PricewaterhouseCoopers and the National Audit Office had given positive findings on QCA risk management. The Audit Committee regularly reviewed Divisional risk registers and reporting systems and found them robust.
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15.3 Board members discussed appropriate escalation, mitigation and the risks around relocation. It was agreed that the Executive would frequently review escalation and mitigation with reports to Board as appropriate. Relocation was noted as always being on the agenda for both Audit Committee and Board meetings.
15.4 The Board endorsed the report.
16 Contracts over £1 million
16.1 Andrew Hall withdrew the Supplemental Agreement contract.
16.2 The Board approved and endorsed all remaining contracts including three extensions tabled at the meeting.
17 Contracts over £200k
17.1 The Board noted the report:
18 Agenda items for future Board meetings
18.1 The Board noted the report.
18.2 Additionally a Board teleconference would be held within 3 weeks.
19 Any other business
19.1 There was no other business.
The next Board meeting will take place via teleconference Tuesday 5 August 2008 followed by the away day on 16 and 17 September 2008.
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