National Assessment Agency
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The National Assessment Agency (NAA) is a subsidiary unit of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA). 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 England, previously undertaken by QCA to whom they are accountable.
As well as being responsible for the national curriculum tests, the agency will work with examination bodies in further reforms of the GCSE and A-level examinations in England and Wales.
The agency claims that it will modernise the examination system, for which it has been given a remit from the government of £100M. The remit covers a two year period from 2004 to 2006. As of 2004, NAA's Managing Director is Jonathan Ford, previously an executive at the National Health Service.
While the NAA have taken over the administrative task of test delivery, QCA have retained their role in regulating testing standards. Prior to the launch of the NAA, Charles Clarke, the 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.
The agency is based at Bolton Street in west London.
External links
- Ministerial statement by Charles Clarke explaining the role of the NAA (http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm200203/cmhansrd/cm031117/wmstext/31117m01.htm), November 2003.
- Press release by QCA announcing the launch of the NAA (http://www.qca.org.uk/news/2586_6916.html), April 2004.