Sports Calendar

“When your predecessor Estelle Morris quit when she realised the QCA had made a cock-up over testing, I seem to remember she found the humility to say sorry. Will you be saying sorry?”

Mr Balls said: “I don’t think that’s a correct description of what happened with Estelle Morris at the time. What I’ve said is that it’s unacceptable.”

Challenged again to apologise, he added: “I’m really upset like you are about what’s happened and that’s why I’m having an inquiry.”

Barry Sheerman, chairman of the committee, said there were worries about the quality of the marking, particularly as ETS was using some markers who had only just passed their A-levels.

He had been told of one recent graduate who was appointed by ETS and was the most experienced person on his marking team.

The hearing coincided with the publication of the terms of reference of Lord Sutherland’s inquiry into the delivery of the tests.

He will investigate the build-up to the awarding of the contract to ETS, its suitability, and whether there were arrangements for the American company to report risks to QCA.

Of the nine listed bulletpoints, only one mentions the Department for Children Schools and Families, asking whether it appropriately monitored QCA’s delivery. The bulk of the investigation will focus on the conduct of the QCA, including the suitability of the contract with ETS.

Michael Gove, the Shadow Children’s Secretary, has written to Mr Balls asking for an explanation.

He said: “Ed Balls says ministers are responsible for national testing but he refuses to apologise to the thousands of children, parents and teachers who have been hurt by this year’s marking fiasco.

“Ministers urgently need to demonstrate proper accountability by answering the questions about how they ignored the warnings and allowed this fiasco to take place.”

David Laws, the Lib Dem Shadow Schools Secretary, said: “Ed Balls must stop ducking his department’s responsibility for this year’s shambolic marking of national tests.

“It is unbelievable that tens of thousands of pupils are going to have to wait until the autumn before getting the results of what are supposed to be critically important tests.

“The Department must have known of these problems for months, yet it has been grossly complacent. The inquiry into this mess must be expanded to consider the role of ministers and their part in overseeing the QCA.”

Times Recommends

• Iran arrests relatives of opposition leaders
• Banksy rival has final word in art feud
• Electrician travels 175 miles to change bulb