National curriculum teacher assessments of the non-core subjects: quality report

The statistics are used both within and outside the Welsh Government to monitor educational trends and as a baseline for further analysis of the underlying data.

Some of the key users are:

• ministers and the Members Research Service in the National Assembly for Wales
• The Department for Education and Skills in the Welsh Government
• other government departments
• the research community
• local authorities and schools
• Estyn
• students, academics and universities
• individual citizens, private companies and the media

These statistics are used in a variety of ways.

Some examples of these are:

• general background and research
• inclusions in reports and briefings
• advice to Ministers
• to inform the education policy decision-making process in Wales including school reorganisation
• the education domain of the Welsh Index of Multiple Deprivation
• to assist in research in educational attainment

We work closely with schools and local authorities in order to ensure all data are validated before tables are published. If there are any anomalies in the data compared with the previous year, we challenge schools and local authorities on these anomalies. Final data are signed off by schools and local authorities each year. Data is collated into an electronic return and submitted to us through DEWi, a secure online data transfer system developed by the Welsh Government. Various stages of automated validation and sense-checking are built into the process to ensure a high quality of data.

DEWi was available for uploading files on 14 May 2019, with schools asked to submit data for every pupil on roll at the school on 14 May for the relevant Foundation Phase and Key Stages. Schools and local authorities were then asked to validate their data within the validation period, which closed on 5 July 2019.

This Statistical First Release is pre-announced and then published on the Statistics section of our website. It is accompanied by more detailed tables on StatsWales, a free to use service that allows visitors to view, manipulate, create and download data.

No independent schools submitted Key Stage 2 or 3 data in 2019. One independent school submitted Key Stage 2 data in 2012. The same independent school also provided results in 2009 and 2010. Independent school’s data is not included in an LA’s results, but does appear in the overall results for Wales.

Data for Wales is not comparable with other UK countries. The Department for Education in England publish separate releases on Key Stage 1 and 2, although no longer publish releases for Key Stage 3. Within the statistical releases for England, figures are published on teacher assessments, as well as official tests.

Scotland education statistics

Northern Ireland education statistics

The United Kingdom Statistics Authority has designated these statistics as National Statistics, in accordance with the Statistics and Registration Service Act 2007 and signifying compliance with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

National Statistics status means that official statistics meet the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and public value.

All official statistics should comply with all aspects of the Code of Practice for Statistics. They are awarded National Statistics status following an assessment by the UK Statistics Authority’s regulatory arm. The Authority considers whether the statistics meet the highest standards of Code compliance, including the value they add to public decisions ad debate. The designation of these statistics as National Statistics was confirmed in July 2010 following a full assessment against the Code of Practice.

Since the latest review by the Office for Statistics Regulation, we have continued to comply with the Code of Practice for Statistics.

We have made the following improvements:

• added to and refined information about dimensions of quality and described links to policy
• produced the latest release in a new simplified format in HTML for the first time

It is our responsibility to maintain compliance with the standards expected of National Statistics. If we become concerned about whether these statistics are still meeting the appropriate standards, we will discuss any concerns with the Authority promptly. National Statistics status can be removed at any point when the highest standards are not maintained, and reinstated when standards are restored.

The Well-being of Future Generations Act 2015 is about improving the social, economic, environmental and cultural wellbeing of Wales. The Act puts in place seven well-being goals for Wales. These are for a more equal, prosperous, resilient, healthier and globally responsible Wales, with cohesive communities and a vibrant culture and thriving Welsh language. Under section (10)(1) of the Act, the Welsh Ministers must (a) publish indicators (“national indicators”) that must be applied for the purpose of measuring progress towards the achievement of the Well-being goals, and (b) lay a copy of the national indicators before Senedd Cymru. The 46 national indicators were laid in March 2016

Information on the indicators, along with narratives for each of the well-being goals and associated technical information is available in the Wellbeing of Wales report.

Further information on the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

The statistics included in this release could also provide supporting narrative to the national indicators and be used by public services boards in relation to their local wellbeing assessments and local wellbeing plans.