Capita work on behalf of the Department for Education’s Standards and Testing Agency (STA), managing the administration, processing and support for all primary school national curriculum assessment (NCA) tests in England.
These tests are:
Key stage 1 (KS1) optional assessments in:
- English grammar, punctuation and spelling (GPS)
- English reading
- Mathematics
- Statutory Phonics Screening Check (PSC)
Key stage 2 (KS2) assessments in:
- English GPS
- English reading
- Mathematics
End to end process management
We manage the end-to-end process for these tests which involves the printing, distribution, and collation of over nine million test papers annually for KS1 and KS2 tests and the Phonics Screening Check, as well as administering the marking of four million KS2 test papers annually.
Our enhanced digital solution provides 16,000 schools and 4,000 test markers with a secure access portal, providing a more efficient service which allows them to review the status of the test process, obtain results, and update and download records in one place.
Also, in partnership with our colleagues at the Scottish Qualifications Authority (SQA), we manage the recruitment, training and management of the nationwide network of KS2 markers.
Applying for a role at Capita
Step 1
If this is your first time making an application or you have not applied for 3 years or more, please complete an Expression of Interest form.
If you’ve previously expressed your interest in marking and have completed the expression of interest form within the last 3 years, you don’t have to do this again as we have retained your details.
Please note: If your form meets our criteria, you’ll be contacted by 1 March 2024 with further steps required to be assigned to one of the marking roles for the 2024 test cycle.
Step 2
Your form will be reviewed against requirements for the regular marker or specialist marker role.
Step 3
If you meet the criteria, you will be contacted by Capita with further steps required to be assigned to one of the marking roles for the 2024 test cycle.
All markers will need to be able to work accurately at speed and demonstrate a positive approach to pupils’ work.
Please note: If you are subject to a ban or prohibition order, you will not be offered a contract.
Step 4
An offer of employment will be made, once accepted you will be required to submit employment details (bank details, proof of right to work in the UK).
Step 5
Right to work and valid ID checks are completed (a valid passport is required for ID checks to be completed) and employment details reviewed.
Step 6
The recruitment process is now complete – welcome to the Capita marking community! You’ll now be issued with the appropriate log in details to train to mark for KS2 tests for 2024.
Data handling and privacy
Click here to find out how we handle your data on this project.
Criteria for the marker roles
The two types of entry level markers are regular markers and specialist markers.
Regular markers
Regular markers must be one of the following:
- an undergraduate, undertaking the final year of a recognised course in primary school teaching
- a graduate, undertaking a recognised postgraduate course in primary school teaching or a postgraduate teacher training programme in secondary school teaching, specialising in the subject or curricular area they are contracted to mark
- a primary school teacher
- a secondary school teacher, specialising in the subject or curricular area they are contracted to mark
- a marker who meets the criteria for a specialist marker but has not obtained a position as a specialist marker due to oversubscription.
Regular markers are required to use professional judgement and subject-specific knowledge to accurately apply the mark scheme.
Specialist markers
Specialist markers must have qualified teacher status with a minimum of one full academic year’s teaching, preferably at primary school. They are required to use professional judgement and subject-specific knowledge to interpret pupil responses and accurately apply the mark scheme.
Your progression: marker team structure
Each KS2 test subject’s marking hierarchy is distinct, meaning that all markers must start at the entry level and work up through the hierarchy, progressing up one marking role at a time.
All markers enter the marking hierarchy for a given test subject by taking up one of the two entry level marker roles, Regular marker and Specialist Marker. Other roles in the marking hierarchy are offered to applicable markers based on marker performance and grading.
Marker training
Approved applicants will receive full training on the marking process and how to apply the mark scheme accurately. This will include mandatory online e-learning, virtual mark scheme training, and ongoing support from a marking supervisor.
May 2024: virtual mark scheme training meeting
The virtual mark scheme training meeting for regular and specialist markers will take place in May, shortly after pupils take the tests. This training meeting will ensure approved applicants understand the mark scheme and all marking procedures. It will also introduce them to the support network available throughout the process.
May 2024: practice scripts
After the virtual training meeting, approved applicants will demonstrate their ability to mark accurately and consistently by marking a set of practice scripts, as an extension to training. They must also successfully mark qualification scripts to demonstrate that they can accurately apply the mark scheme before being approved to mark pupil responses.
May to June: test scripts
If successful at marking qualification scripts, approved applicants will start marking test scripts in May through to June. They will usually complete their marking within 3 weeks. Marking accuracy will be assessed throughout the marking period to ensure that all markers are marking to the agreed standard.
Please note: Markers need to be available for all training dates and during the live marking window.
Marker roles
Recruitment for all available roles runs from 1st December 2023 until 1 February 2024.
If you would like to learn more about a role, please click on the job description PDF. These include more specific details of what the roles will entail, and the qualifications and experience required for each post.
Please note: The Senior Marker and Assistant Marking Programme Leader roles are only available to those who have fulfilled these roles in the last test cycle.
Regular Marker (RM)
Open to current markers and those expressing an interest in marking.
Download
Specialist Marker (SM)
Open to current markers, senior markers, and those expressing an interest in marking and meeting the criteria.
Download
Senior Marker (SSM, RSM)
Only open to current senior markers from last test cycle.
Download
Assistant Marking Programme Leader (AMPL)
Only open to current AMPLs.
Download
Assistant Marking Programme Leader Material Development (AMPL_MD)
All positions filled for 2024.
Deputy Marking Programme Leader (DMPL)
All positions filled for 2024.
Marking Programme Leader (MPL)
All positions filled for 2024.
Contact us
If you have any questions, please contact the marker helpline on 0300 303 1114, Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.00pm or email: marking@capita.com