external marking agencymeans a body nominated by the Authority and approved by the Secretary of State to mark NC tests;
maintained schoolhas the meaning assigned to that expression by section 350(1) of the Education Act 1996;
section 356(2)(a) and (b) ordersmeans orders made under section 356(2)(a) and (b) of the Education Act 1996 specifying attainment targets and programmes of study;
specifiedmeans specified in relation to the second key stage by a section 356(2)(a) and (b) order;
summer termmeans the third term in a school year (as defined in section 579(1) of the Education Act 1996);
the associated documentsmeans the documents published by Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, setting out any levels of attainment, attainment targets and programmes of study in relation to the core subjects, which documents have effect by virtue of the respective section 356(2)(a) and (b) orders for those subjects for the time being in force;
the Authoritymeans the Qualification and Curriculum Authority established under section 21 of the Education Act 1997;
the core subjectsmeans English, mathematics and science;