RE: InCAS Standardised Scores Feedback
Wednesday 28 October 2009
Dear Principal
As you are aware an error in the InCAS assessment for General Maths recently resulted in incorrect age-equivalent scores being returned to schools and in some cases reported to parents. InCAS is developed and administered under contract by the Centre for Evaluation and Monitoring (CEM) at the University of Durham.
Following further checks requested by CCEA acting on feedback from a number of schools, CEM informed us of an error in standardised scores made available to schools for their internal analysis.
This was caused by a computer program error in their systems.
The error applied to standardised scores in Reading, General Maths, Developed Ability and Mental Arithmetic.
The InCAS assessment was designed to produce age related outcomes. Following requests from some schools, developments were carried out to include standardised scores for those schools that found these helpful. Standardised scores are not required to be reported to parents. This error does not affect age-equivalent scores for pupils.
The error has been resolved and correct standardised scores are now available on the InCAS website www.incasproject.org.
I would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused by this error.
In the circumstances, DE has agreed that CCEA can provide funding for one day’s teacher substitution cover. This will allow those schools affected, should they wish, to provide a teacher or teaching principal with time to review all of their scores and identify any changes to planning of teaching and learning that may, in their professional judgment, be needed as a result.
This funding will be in addition to a similar provision that will be available to those schools that had already begun or completed meetings with parents prior to the earlier error in General Maths scores.
Information on how to access this funding will be provided to the affected schools.
I would like to pay tribute to schools for the thorough approach taken to the analysis of InCAS outcomes and the quality of feedback provided to CCEA. I am disappointed that quality assurance measures put in place by CEM have been below the expected standard.
CEM has provided further assurances about the accuracy of outcomes. We will continue to monitor CEM’s work closely as they continue with further checks and the implementation of further quality assurance measures.
If you have any queries please contact the InCAS helpdesk on 028 90 261274.
Yours faithfully
Richard Hanna
Director of Education Strategy
