STA-0154 NCT Print and Collation Services

Overview

1.1 The Standards and Testing Agency (STA), an executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE), manages the live administration of the annual National Curriculum Assessment (NCA) phonics screening check (PSC) and end-of-key stage 1 (KS1) and end-of-key stage 2 (KS2) tests (collectively known as the 'annual NCA Test Cycle'), a key aspect of which is the production, collation and distribution of NCA test materials to participating schools.

1.2 This contract covers all elements of producing the test materials (e.g. sourcing paper, production proofing, manufacture and delivery) and the collation services to prepare consignments for despatch (e.g. sourcing all packaging and peripherals, fulfilment processes, despatch planning, data processing, and helpdesk).

Phonics screening check (PSC)

1.3 The annual NCA PSC check has been designed to help teachers assess whether pupils have learnt phonic decoding to an appropriate standard. The check, which comprises a list of 40 words, will be administered to all pupils in Year 1 (aged 5-6), and those in Year 2 (aged 6-7) who did not meet the standard in Year 1.

1.4 In 2018 the check will be administered to c. 600,000 Year 1 pupils, plus a yet to be confirmed number of pupils resitting the check in Year, located in c.16,000 primary schools in the second week of June 2018. The check materials comprise of a set of 5 items, which are sufficient for 30 pupils, including a booklet of words for the pupils to read aloud. A small number of pupils will take a modified braille version of the check.

KS1

1.5 The annual NCA KS1 tests have been designed to test pupils' knowledge and understanding of English reading, mathematics and English grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS) at the end of their KS1 education (i.e. at the end of Year 2, aged 6-7). The test will be administered to c. 600,000 pupils located in c. 16,000 schools in May 2018 .

1.6 A small number of pupils with visual impairments will require modified KS1 test materials, i.e., modified large print, and braille.

KS2

1.7 The annual NCA KS2 tests are designed to test pupils' knowledge and understanding of English reading, mathematics and English GPS at the end of their KS2 education (i.e. at the end of Year 6, aged 10-11). In 2018, the test will be administered to c. 590,000 pupils located in c. 15,500 schools on specific days between 14-18 May 2018.

1.8 As with KS1 a small number of pupils with visual impairments will require modified KS2 test materials, i.e., modified large print, and braille.

Additional information: An extension option to 31/07/2019.

Value of contract £3.2m for initial year, expected to be similar for second year for a total of approx. £6.5m