This week: the national reference test

If someone says… “Oh God, not more testing!”

You say… “Not exactly. This is not a test as you’d think of it. The national reference test was introduced in 2017 to provide extra information to help the awarding of GCSEs. Run by the National Foundation for Educational Research under a contract with Ofqual, it was sat for the second time in the spring of this year.”

If someone says… “It still sounds a lot like more testing. Who sits it?”

You say… “Each year, a random sample of around 350 schools are selected and 60 pupils at each take a test booklet in maths or English.

“The test is securely administered and the content is largely the same each year.”

If someone says… “For the love of God, why?”

You say… “It is designed to provide evidence on changes in performance standards over time in English language and maths at the end of Year 11. Horrifically complicated, it should allow for improved national results that can’t be attacked as grade inflation.”