This Order revokes and replaces the Education (National Curriculum) (Assessment Arrangements for the Core Subjects) (Key Stage 2) (England) Order 1994 (“the 1994 Order”), the Education (National Curriculum) (Assessment Arrangements for the Core Subjects) (Key Stage 2) (England) (Amendment) Order 1996 and the Education (National Curriculum) (Assessment Arrangements for Key Stages 1, 2 and 3) (England) (Amendment) Order 1997. It specifies the assessment arrangements for the core subjects in the final year of the second key stage as they apply to maintained schools (other than any established in a hospital) in England.

The main change from the 1994 Order is to provide for monitoring of the NC test assessment arrangements under article 5 by local education authorities and for determination of a pupil’s record of results by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority in cases where the results of the NC test assessment are inaccurate or otherwise incorrect (articles 6 and 7). The head teacher is also required to provide a statement, signed by himself, to the external marking agency confirming that the NC tests were administered in accordance with the document in which they are published at the times specified in the relevant NC assessment timetable (article 5(4)).