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QCA
(Qualifications and Curriculum Authority)
83 Piccadilly, London W1J 8QA
Tel: 020 7509 5555 Fax: 020 7509 6666
website : www.qca.org.uk
This is the official authority for school curricula and examinations in England. It is the guardian of quality and standards in Education in England and works closely with its partners in Wales and Northern Ireland to develop a national framework of qualifications. It also works closely with its regulatory partner in Scotland to keep the National and Scottish Vocational qualifications aligned.
The English and Welsh Education systems classify pupils by year groups - years 1 to 13. Pupils are assessed throughout their school lives at year 2 (Key Stage 1), Year 6 (Key Stage 2) and Year 9 (Key Stage 3) by national Standard Attainment Tests (SATs).
All pupils take the GCSE (General Certificate of Secondary Education) in Year 11 at age 16. Those pupils who continue their education beyond 16 take GCE (General Certificate of Education) examinations in Year 13. The QCA publishes many useful details about SATs
National Vocational Examinations may also be taken at school in Year 11 and later, in Year 13.
A catalogue of publications can be downloaded from the QCA website.
QCA Publications: PO Box 99 Sudbury, Suffolk CO10 2SN
Tel: 01787 884444 Fax: 01787 312950 e-mail: QCA@Prolog.uk.com top
DFES
(Department for Education and Skills)
Sanctuary Buidings, Great Smith Street, London, SW1P 3BT
Tel: 020 7925 6124 Fax: 020 7925 5179
website: www.dfes.gov.uk
The Department of Education was once the educational power in the land . Successive governments tinkered with its remit so that it became first the Department of Education and Science, then the Department of Education and Employment, then the Department for Education and Employment and finally the Department for Education and Skills, its present title.
New bureaucracies, the QCA and OFSTED, were created to take over key functions of the Department. From being a somewhat austere, intellectual overlord of Education, with a world-wide reputation for progressive educational thinking, it has been reduced to having a hands-on role for “improving the quality of education for all, in order to work for a more inclusive society, to improve the job prospects of our youngsters, to improve the skills of the workforce, and generally, to raise standards” This will involve “delivering better and more available early years education, tackling, with other professionals, the causes of poverty, literacy and numeracy campaigns. lifelong learning and increasing the supply of teaching staff.”
O tempora! O mores !
DfES publications:
Tel: 0845 60 22260 Fax: 0845 60 33360
e-mail: dfes@Prolog.uk.com top
OFSTED
(The Office for Standards in Education)
website: www.ofsted.gov.uk
This is the office of Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Schools. Ofsted’s remit is to review all matters concerned with Education and, in particular, to make inspections of Educational Establishments and to produce reports. These reports can be viewed on their website.
Ofsted also has the job of promoting good practice in teaching and in the management of schools. top
Other Educational sites
NFER
( National Foundation for Educational Research)
The Mere, Upton Park, Slough SL1 2DQ
Tel: 01753 574123 Fax: 01753 691632
website: www.nfer.ac.uk
e-mail: enquiries@nfer.ac.uk
The NFER is Britain’s leading, independent educational research organisation. Its mission is to gather, analyse and disseminate research based information in order to improve education and training. Besides the research programme, the NFER is involved in Test development and evaluation for educational organisations and training bodies. These include the National Curriculum SATs and also skill tests for adults.
The NFER also evaluates the impact of government iniatives on education and training programmes.
It has an extensive Library and Information Service which is available to the public. The website has a LINKS section, which must be the most comprehensive list of Educational bodies and organisations, with educational links to e.g. childline, autism, attention deficit disorder, and many, many more. top
CRB
(The Criminal Records Bureau)
PO Box 91, Liverpool L69 2UH
The Criminal Records Bureau was set up, in 1999, to act as a source of information from Police, DfES and Department of Health records to help employers assess the suitability of candidates for posts involving a high degree of trust or work with vulnerable people, especially children.
Telephone: 0870 9090811
website: www.crb.gov.uk www.disclosure.gov.uk top
GTC
(The General Teaching Council for England)
3rd Floor, Cannon House, 24 The Priory, Queensway,
Birmingham B4 6BS
The GTC was established in September 2000 under the Teaching and Higher Education Act 1998. All teachers, including supply teachers, wishing to teach in maintained schools or non-maintained special schools must register with the GTC. All teachers must hold Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) before being admitted to the register. The GTC publishes a Code of Professional Values and Conduct for Teachers.
Telephone: 0870 001 0308
e-mail: registration@gtce.org.uk website: www.gtce.org.uk
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