The Education (National Curriculum) (Specified Purpose) (England) Order 2016
Part 6 of the Education Act 2002 (“the 2002 Act”) is concerned with the curriculum for maintained schools in England. One aspect of the National Curriculum for England (as to which, see section 80(1)(b) of the 2002 Act) is the arrangements for assessing pupils for certain purposes (assessment arrangements). This Order, made under section 76(2)(b) of the 2002 Act, specifies an additional purpose for which such arrangements may be made. The purpose specified is providing evidence, to the Office of Qualifications and Examinations Regulation (Ofqual) on changes in pupils’ performance over time in English language and mathematics at the end of the fourth key stage (when GCSEs in those subjects are most commonly taken), principally through testing pupils.