Standardised testing system for Schools: FOI release

Information request and response under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002.


FOI reference: FOI/17/02015
Date received: 1 September 2017
Date responded: 28 September 2017

Information requested

The following information regarding the new standardised testing system introduced in Scottish schools:

1. What data will the Scottish Government receive from the test provider and when will this information be received? (NB: In July 2016 a Scottish Government official confirmed to me that: The Scottish Government will have the ability to receive, from the assessment provider, a full dataset of the results of the assessments at pupil level for each school year. The Scottish Government will use any information gathered through the National Improvement Framework for improvement purposes.)

2. Any Scottish Government communication or documentation - both internal and external - related to the central gathering of standardised test data.

To be clear, I am not seeking confirmation that the government will receive 'teacher judgement' data, based partly on standardised testing information, from schools or local authorities - my request relates specifically to the provision of test data from the test provider to the Scottish government (as referenced in question 1).

Response

What data will the Scottish Government receive from the test provider and when will this information be received?

The Scottish Government will only have access to national level data from the Scottish National Standardised Assessment. This information will be available to the Scottish Government in summer 2018.

Any Scottish Government communication or documentation - both internal and external - related to the central gathering of standardised test data

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance we are unable to provide some of the information you have requested because exemptions under sections 29(1)(a) formulation or development of government policy and 38(1)(b) personal information of FOISA applies to that information. The reasons why these exemptions apply are explained below.

I have attached a pdf file will all available information included.

Reasons for not providing information

An exemption applies

An exemption under section 29(1)(a) formulation or development of government policy of FOISA applies to some of the information you have requested. This exemption is subject to the 'public interest test'. Therefore, taking account of all the circumstances of this case, we have considered if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption. We have found that, on balance, the public interest lies in favour of upholding the exemption. We recognise that there is a public interest in disclosing information as part of open, transparent and accountable government, and to inform public debate. However, there is a greater public interest in high quality policy and decision-making, and in the properly considered implementation and development of policies and decisions. This means that Ministers and officials need to be able to consider all available options and to debate those rigorously, to fully understand their possible implications.

An exemption under section 38(1)(b) of FOISA (personal information) applies to some of the redacted information because it is personal data of a third party, ie names/contact details of individuals, and disclosing it would contravene the data protection principles in Schedule 1 to the Data Protection Act 1998. This exemption is not subject to the 'public interest test', so we are not required to consider if the public interest in disclosing the information outweighs the public interest in applying the exemption.

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses

FOI-17-02015 related email correspondence.pdf

Contact

Please quote the FOI reference

Central Enquiry Unit
Email: ceu@gov.scot
Phone: 0300 244 4000

The Scottish Government
St Andrew's House
Regent Road
Edinburgh
EH1 3DG

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