''Learning pathways through statutory assessment: Key Stages 2 and 3'', also known as the Daugherty Report is a government review of the educational assessment system for Key Stages 2 and 3 (11- and 14-year-olds) in

Wales Wales ( cy, Cymru ) is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It is bordered by England to the east, the Irish Sea to the north and west, the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south. It had a population in ...

. The review was commissioned by

Jane Davidson Jane Davidson (born 19 March 1957) is a Welsh former Labour politician, the former Assembly Member for Pontypridd, and served as minister for environment, sustainability and housing in the Welsh Government. She also previously served as the W ...

of the

National Assembly for Wales The Senedd (; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, it makes laws for Wales, agrees certain taxes and scrutinises the Welsh Go ...

in June 2003 and undertaken by a group led by Professor Richard Daugherty from the

University of Wales, Aberystwyth , mottoeng = A world without knowledge is no world at all , established = 1872 (as ''The University College of Wales'') , former_names = University of Wales, Aberystwyth , type = Public , endowment = ...

. The group were given the task of reviewing the nature and suitability of the national statutory assessments, looking in particular at the timing of the tests, and what uses the resulting data are put to. The impact of the tests on the primary to secondary transition was also investigated. The interim report, released on 22 January 2004, was perceived by the media as supporting a complete abolishment of the statutory tests at both Key Stages 2 and 3. The report suggested that 10-year-old pupils (year 5) should take

aptitude test An examination (exam or evaluation) or test is an educational assessment intended to measure a test-taker's knowledge, skill, aptitude, physical fitness, or classification in many other topics (e.g., beliefs). A test may be administered verba ...

s. The aim of these should be to inform teaching in year 6, and later in secondary school, whilst noting that the results of these could be collected for monitoring purposes. It also recommended that teacher assessments at the end of year 6 remain compulsory. At Key Stage 3, the interim report suggested that the current assessment system be phased out after three years, and replaced with assessments at the end of year 8 or beginning of year 9. Over this three years, a system for moderation of teacher assessments would be developed. It would be up to secondary schools to ensure that consistent teacher assessments had occurred in their feeder schools. Inter-country monitoring would be achieved by using a sample of attainments linked to the

OECD The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD; french: Organisation de coopération et de développement économiques, ''OCDE'') is an intergovernmental organisation with 38 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate e ...

Programme for International Student Assessment The Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) is a worldwide study by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in member and non-member nations intended to evaluate educational systems by measuring 15-yea ...

. The report also noted the importance of developing formative assessment practices. The review group has worked closely with

ACCAC ACCAC (the acronym of Awdurdod Cymwysterau, Cwricwlwm ac Asesu Cymru) was the Qualifications, Curriculum and Assessment Authority for Wales. On 1 April 2006, it merged with the Welsh Assembly Government's new Department for Children, Education, ...

, who are also undertaking an assessment review due for release in April 2004, the same time as the final Daugherty Report is published.

Members of the review group

*Richard Daugherty (Chair) *Gareth Morgans, headteacher,

Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire ( cy, Sir Gaerfyrddin; or informally ') is a county in the south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. The county is known as ...

*Irene Perry, headteacher,

Conwy Conwy (, ), previously known in English as Conway, is a walled market town, community and the administrative centre of Conwy County Borough in North Wales. The walled town and castle stand on the west bank of the River Conwy, facing Deganwy on ...

*Michael Bassett, teacher, Rhondda Cynon Taff *Mark Ansell, teacher, Aberystwyth *Helen Cleaves, parent-governor, Monmouthshire *Sioned Bowen, Director of Education,

Denbighshire Denbighshire ( ; cy, Sir Ddinbych; ) is a county in the north-east of Wales. Its borders differ from the historic county of the same name. This part of Wales contains the country's oldest known evidence of habitation – Pontnewydd (Bontnewy ...

*John Valentine Williams, Chief Executive of

*Susan Lewis, HM Chief Inspector,

Estyn Estyn is the education and training inspectorate for Wales. Its name comes from the Welsh language verb ''estyn'' meaning "to reach (out), stretch or extend". Its function is to provide an independent inspection and advice service on quality ...

*Keith Davies, Head of Standards and Performance Division of the

Welsh Assembly The Senedd (; ), officially known as the Welsh Parliament in English and () in Welsh, is the devolved, unicameral legislature of Wales. A democratically elected body, it makes laws for Wales, agrees certain taxes and scrutinises the Welsh ...

External links

Text of the interim report
( PDF)
Article on the interim report
in ''

The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...

'' Education in the United Kingdom