Examine the Examiner – Part 2

Dr. Ken Boston

Followers of the Celtic Sage will not be surprised that as he predicted last July, Ken Boston, head of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, has stepped down ahead of a report into this summer's test chaos. The only question is; why did it take so long for him to go when no doubt he is using his free business class flights to Australia, has no doubt lined up another lucrative position over the past 5 months and, heavens forbid, has negotiated a payoff for failure from the British Taxpayer who he has amply mugged already.

For, as I noted last July, Dr. Ken Boston was on an extraordinary package. He had the use of a £1 million Chelsea flat as part of his pay and perks package and was on a £328,000-a year deal as it emerged that half a million children could be forced to re-sit key tests.

Dr Boston is paid more than the Governor of the Bank of England in salary, which jumped 15 per cent from last year, and perks which include the flat and six business-class flights a year back to his home country of Australia. The flights, which typically cost between £3,700 and £7,700, can be claimed by either Dr Boston, his wife Yvonne or daughter Nathalie.

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/07/examine-examiner.html

Today (13/12/2008) the head of the exams watchdog in England has resigned over the SATS test fiasco. Dr Ken Boston, head of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, has stepped down ahead of what is expected to be a highly critical report into this summer's test chaos. Hundreds of thousands of pupils had delayed test results - and this year's league tables have been postponed. Dr Boston said his resignation follows the "delivery failure" for this year's tests. "I have always believed in public bodies and public officials taking responsibility when things go wrong," said Dr Boston, who has held the post since 2002.

On Tuesday, Lord Sutherland is due to publish the findings of his inquiry into what caused the delays and confusion with the tests taken by 11 and 14 year olds. The exam chief is the latest casualty of the administrative failures that affected primary and secondary school tests. ETS Europe, the private outsourcing company hired to administer the tests has seen its contract terminated. Half of the tests themselves are being scrapped - with the Children's Secretary Ed Balls having announced in October that there will be no more compulsory SATS tests for 14 year olds. If Lord Sutherland produces a damning report into what the government calls "severe problems" with the tests, then it could raise the prospect of further heads rolling.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and its testing arm, the National Assessment Agency, were responsible for hiring the US-owned contractor. Head teachers, teachers and markers had been warning of problems with the organisation of this year's test from the spring.

In May, MPs in the House of Commons had said the tests had become a "shambles" - long before the scheduled results date in July. Following the missed deadlines, Dr Boston appeared before a committee of MPs in July and assured them that all the tests taken by 11 year olds had been marked. However a photograph sent soon after to the BBC News website showed boxes of unmarked test papers still lying uncollected in a Lancashire primary school - prompting accusations from opposition parties that the test authorities had lost control.


Six of the many boxes of unmarked SATS exams after Ken Boston assured MPs tha "100% of tests have been marked"

Australian-born Dr Boston had faced intense pressure in the wake of the test problems. But his decision to quit ahead of the inquiry report has been regretted by teachers' leaders.

The Education Minister has shown himself as unrelenting in following the discreditable “Sun” Newspaper in hounding out the Head of Haringey Social Services (Who his own QA agency OFSTED gave top marks to only a year ago) without notice or compensation and replacing her with somebody on twice the salary. But why has he let Ken Boston continue on his lucrative package and leave at a time of his own choosing despite the damming evidence of failure and the body blow occasioned to the English education system? Is he only a “Hard Man” when running after Rupert Murdoch’s tabloids and their Lynch Law campaigns? When we have the details of Ken Boston’s leaving package we will also have the answer to whether this Balls really has Cojhones!

Examine the Examiner – Part 2

Dr. Ken Boston

Followers of the Celtic Sage will not be surprised that as he predicted last July, Ken Boston, head of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, has stepped down ahead of a report into this summer's test chaos. The only question is; why did it take so long for him to go when no doubt he is using his free business class flights to Australia, has no doubt lined up another lucrative position over the past 5 months and, heavens forbid, has negotiated a payoff for failure from the British Taxpayer who he has amply mugged already.

For, as I noted last July, Dr. Ken Boston was on an extraordinary package. He had the use of a £1 million Chelsea flat as part of his pay and perks package and was on a £328,000-a year deal as it emerged that half a million children could be forced to re-sit key tests.

Dr Boston is paid more than the Governor of the Bank of England in salary, which jumped 15 per cent from last year, and perks which include the flat and six business-class flights a year back to his home country of Australia. The flights, which typically cost between £3,700 and £7,700, can be claimed by either Dr Boston, his wife Yvonne or daughter Nathalie.

http://daithaic.blogspot.com/2008/07/examine-examiner.html

Today (13/12/2008) the head of the exams watchdog in England has resigned over the SATS test fiasco. Dr Ken Boston, head of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, has stepped down ahead of what is expected to be a highly critical report into this summer's test chaos. Hundreds of thousands of pupils had delayed test results - and this year's league tables have been postponed. Dr Boston said his resignation follows the "delivery failure" for this year's tests. "I have always believed in public bodies and public officials taking responsibility when things go wrong," said Dr Boston, who has held the post since 2002.

On Tuesday, Lord Sutherland is due to publish the findings of his inquiry into what caused the delays and confusion with the tests taken by 11 and 14 year olds. The exam chief is the latest casualty of the administrative failures that affected primary and secondary school tests. ETS Europe, the private outsourcing company hired to administer the tests has seen its contract terminated. Half of the tests themselves are being scrapped - with the Children's Secretary Ed Balls having announced in October that there will be no more compulsory SATS tests for 14 year olds. If Lord Sutherland produces a damning report into what the government calls "severe problems" with the tests, then it could raise the prospect of further heads rolling.

The Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and its testing arm, the National Assessment Agency, were responsible for hiring the US-owned contractor. Head teachers, teachers and markers had been warning of problems with the organisation of this year's test from the spring.

In May, MPs in the House of Commons had said the tests had become a "shambles" - long before the scheduled results date in July. Following the missed deadlines, Dr Boston appeared before a committee of MPs in July and assured them that all the tests taken by 11 year olds had been marked. However a photograph sent soon after to the BBC News website showed boxes of unmarked test papers still lying uncollected in a Lancashire primary school - prompting accusations from opposition parties that the test authorities had lost control.


Six of the many boxes of unmarked SATS exams after Ken Boston assured MPs tha "100% of tests have been marked"

Australian-born Dr Boston had faced intense pressure in the wake of the test problems. But his decision to quit ahead of the inquiry report has been regretted by teachers' leaders.

The Education Minister has shown himself as unrelenting in following the discreditable “Sun” Newspaper in hounding out the Head of Haringey Social Services (Who his own QA agency OFSTED gave top marks to only a year ago) without notice or compensation and replacing her with somebody on twice the salary. But why has he let Ken Boston continue on his lucrative package and leave at a time of his own choosing despite the damming evidence of failure and the body blow occasioned to the English education system? Is he only a “Hard Man” when running after Rupert Murdoch’s tabloids and their Lynch Law campaigns? When we have the details of Ken Boston’s leaving package we will also have the answer to whether this Balls really has Cojhones!

Examine the Examiner.

The London Evening Standard reports that the man at the centre of the SATS marking fiasco has the use of a £1 million Chelsea flat as part of his pay and perks package, in a report today. Ken Boston, 65, came under increasing pressure to justify his £328,000-ayear deal as it emerged that half a million children could be forced to re-sit key tests.

Dr Boston is paid more than the Governor of the Bank of England in his salary package, which jumped 15 per cent from last year, and perks which include the flat and six business-class flights a year back to his home country of Australia. The flights, which typically cost between £3,700 and £7,700, can be claimed by either Dr Boston, his wife Yvonne or daughter Nathalie.

Not a whinging Pom!

He is chief executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority which has come in for a hail of criticism over the late delivery of the results of tests taken by 11- and 14-year-olds across England, as well as alleged poor marking standards. The company's five-year contract is worth £165 million. As the marking crisis deepened, with at least 175,000 children still waiting for results, Dr Boston faced growing pressure over his decision to hire US-based firm ETS Europe to run the tests this year.

Government sources have questioned whether he can survive the furore. He has been ordered to send a copy of his contract of employment to MPs on the Commons schools select committee which is investigating the crisis. Half a million children could be forced to take English and maths tests again next term. Secondary school teachers are expected to make new arrivals take a series of fresh tests because they have no confidence in the accuracy of the SATS.

Not a patch on my Aussie Pad!

Now it would be wrong of anybody to begrudge Ken Boston his wonderful remuneration package and perhaps we'll soon find out whether it is with him personally or with an offshore company and whether Dr. Boston is one of that curious non taxpaying race from a different planet, the Non-Doms? There is obviously no need for concern by Gordon Brown here, or even the Deputy Chancellor Alistair Darling, for obviously, unlike greedy teaching assistants and cleaners lording it up on their 2.5% wage increase, Dr. Boston's salary does not contribute to inflation? And I’ve no doubt that the Chief Examiner’s tax affairs will stand scrutiny and he contributes fully on his generous salary and extensive tax payer funded Benefits in Kind to Her Majesty’s Revenue as would any other PAYE employee, such as his cleaning lady. I cannot imagine it would be otherwise as I know HMRC are scrupulous in enforcing the IR35 provisions to ensure individual’s don’t use contrivances to avoid paying their fair share of tax and National Insurance.

No, the only nagging doubt I have is this, was it not possible to find ONE other person with Ken Boston's wonderfully proven talents within the European Economic Area as required under the quaint and arcane procedures of British Immigration law? I'm embarrassed to be expressing these doubts for of course these laws were never expected to apply to good chaps with the right skin colour from the Dominions? I’m sure all that immigration stuff is in order and we will be spared the appalling vista of a government which was employing illegal aliens as security guards in the Home Office having to prosecute itself for breaching its own draconian immigration laws. Let’s face it, applying the law equally is only meant to be for the “little people” not for “one of their own.” No, put these thoughts out of your mind I’m sure all is above board!

As for Doctor Ken, Gd on ya Mate in getting yourself one Bonzer Deal! Keep stuffing it Mate to those Whinging Poms!!

Examine the Examiner.

The London Evening Standard reports that the man at the centre of the SATS marking fiasco has the use of a £1 million Chelsea flat as part of his pay and perks package, in a report today. Ken Boston, 65, came under increasing pressure to justify his £328,000-ayear deal as it emerged that half a million children could be forced to re-sit key tests.

Dr Boston is paid more than the Governor of the Bank of England in his salary package, which jumped 15 per cent from last year, and perks which include the flat and six business-class flights a year back to his home country of Australia. The flights, which typically cost between £3,700 and £7,700, can be claimed by either Dr Boston, his wife Yvonne or daughter Nathalie.

Not a whinging Pom!

He is chief executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority which has come in for a hail of criticism over the late delivery of the results of tests taken by 11- and 14-year-olds across England, as well as alleged poor marking standards. The company's five-year contract is worth £165 million. As the marking crisis deepened, with at least 175,000 children still waiting for results, Dr Boston faced growing pressure over his decision to hire US-based firm ETS Europe to run the tests this year.

Government sources have questioned whether he can survive the furore. He has been ordered to send a copy of his contract of employment to MPs on the Commons schools select committee which is investigating the crisis. Half a million children could be forced to take English and maths tests again next term. Secondary school teachers are expected to make new arrivals take a series of fresh tests because they have no confidence in the accuracy of the SATS.

Not a patch on my Aussie Pad!

Now it would be wrong of anybody to begrudge Ken Boston his wonderful remuneration package and perhaps we'll soon find out whether it is with him personally or with an offshore company and whether Dr. Boston is one of that curious non taxpaying race from a different planet, the Non-Doms? There is obviously no need for concern by Gordon Brown here, or even the Deputy Chancellor Alistair Darling, for obviously, unlike greedy teaching assistants and cleaners lording it up on their 2.5% wage increase, Dr. Boston's salary does not contribute to inflation? And I’ve no doubt that the Chief Examiner’s tax affairs will stand scrutiny and he contributes fully on his generous salary and extensive tax payer funded Benefits in Kind to Her Majesty’s Revenue as would any other PAYE employee, such as his cleaning lady. I cannot imagine it would be otherwise as I know HMRC are scrupulous in enforcing the IR35 provisions to ensure individual’s don’t use contrivances to avoid paying their fair share of tax and National Insurance.

No, the only nagging doubt I have is this, was it not possible to find ONE other person with Ken Boston's wonderfully proven talents within the European Economic Area as required under the quaint and arcane procedures of British Immigration law? I'm embarrassed to be expressing these doubts for of course these laws were never expected to apply to good chaps with the right skin colour from the Dominions? I’m sure all that immigration stuff is in order and we will be spared the appalling vista of a government which was employing illegal aliens as security guards in the Home Office having to prosecute itself for breaching its own draconian immigration laws. Let’s face it, applying the law equally is only meant to be for the “little people” not for “one of their own.” No, put these thoughts out of your mind I’m sure all is above board!

As for Doctor Ken, Gd on ya Mate in getting yourself one Bonzer Deal! Keep stuffing it Mate to those Whinging Poms!!