---
title: "Validation of pupil test for Teaching Reading for Meaning"
ocid: "ocds-h6vhtk-079021"
canonical_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-079021"
markdown_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-079021.md"
json_url: "https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-079021.json"
source: "Find A Tender Service"
current_stage: "Award"
buyer: "British Council"
published: "2026-10-26"
---

# Validation of pupil test for Teaching Reading for Meaning

Buyer: British Council  
Current stage: Award  
OCID: ocds-h6vhtk-079021

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## Summary

The British Council commissioned validation of a bespoke reading-comprehension test developed for a teacher-training initiative. The work covers analysis of test items and whether they are strong, valid and reliable, including measures of item response, adherence to the socio-cognitive framework and construct validity. The test is intended to assess reading comprehension and the language skills that underpin it, where suitable existing tests were not available. Schools in South Africa and Ethiopia will administer the tests, then send the resulting data to the supplier for statistical analysis. The requirement is research and related consultancy services, supporting the assessment of learning outcomes in the planned education trial.

The procurement is complete and a supplier has been selected. It was a below-threshold direct award without competition, with one lot. The award is recorded at £32,200 excluding VAT and £37,030 including VAT. The contract period runs from 31 October 2026 to 30 September 2027. The published procurement information does not state an award date or identify the selected supplier, so neither can be reported here. The requirement was assessed as a service contract; the central work is test validation through statistical analysis of data collected in South Africa and Ethiopia. The award status is recorded as pending.

For suppliers considering similar future work for the British Council, this requirement indicates demand for specialist educational assessment and statistical analysis in an international school setting. A credible provider would need to analyse item-response data and assess test-item strength, socio-cognitive framework adherence and construct validity, with a clear understanding of reading comprehension and the language skills supporting it. The work depends on turning test results collected in South Africa and Ethiopia into evidence about whether a bespoke assessment is appropriate, valid and reliable. Relevant experience would therefore include educational measurement, test validation and communicating robust analytical findings to support evaluation of a teacher-training initiative. The work is focused on assessment research rather than general teacher training or school delivery.

## Notice

English and School Education South Africa and Ethiopia are planning a randomized control trial (RCT) for the 2027 school academic year. In order for the RCT to be successfully implemented and show the efficacy of the teacher training initiative, we need to measure or assess learning outcomes. We have developed a bespoke test for this purpose, as there are no appropriate tests available for testing reading comprehension and the other language skills underpinning reading comprehension. Before using the test, we need the test to be validated to ensure that the test items are appropriate, valid and reliable. We therefore need a supplier that can provide the following: a) Test item strength through Item response data measure b) Socio-cognitive framework adherence measure c) Construct validity measure The validation will be conducted in both South Africa and Ethiopia. Our stakeholder relationships with the ministries of education are quite strong and agreement for each of the schools will be sought with very little risk of being rejected. The process will be for each country to conduct the tests and then send the test data to the supplier for statistical analysis to measure the items required for test validation.

## Key Details

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication source | Find A Tender Service |
| Latest notice | https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101016-2026 |
| Notice type | UK5 - Transparency Notice |
| Procurement type | Standard |
| Procurement category | Services |
| Procurement method | Direct |
| Procurement method details | Below threshold - without competition |
| Tender suitability | Not specified |
| Awardee scale | Not specified |
| All stages | Award |

## Dates

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Publication date | 26 Oct 2026 |
| Submission deadline | Not specified |
| Future notice date | Not specified |
| Award date | Not specified |
| Contract period | 31 Oct 2026 - 1 Oct 2027 |
| Recurrence | Not specified |

## Values

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender value | Not specified |
| Lots value | Not specified |
| Awards value | £32,200 |
| Contracts value | Not specified |

## Status

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Tender status | Complete |
| Lots status | Complete |
| Awards status | Pending |
| Contracts status | Not specified |

## Buyer

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Main buyer | British Council |
| Locality | LONDON |
| Postcode area | East London |
| Postcode | E20 1JQ |
| Country | England |
| ITL 1 | TLI London |
| ITL 2 | TLI4 Inner London - East |
| ITL 3 | TLI41 Hackney and Newham |
| Local authority | Newham |
| Electoral ward | Stratford Olympic Park |
| Westminster constituency | Stratford and Bow |
| Delivery location | Not specified |

## CPV Codes

### Divisions

- 73 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

### Codes

- 73000000 - Research and development services and related consultancy services

## Release History

- 26 Oct 2026 at 13:23 - Award - UK5 - Transparency Notice - https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101016-2026

## Documents

- https://www.find-tender.service.gov.uk/Notice/101016-2026
  26th October 2026 - Transparency notice on Find a Tender

## Notice URLs

- http://www.britishcouncil.org
- https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2023/54/contents

## Provenance

This Markdown file is an alternate public rendering of the D3 Tenders contract record. The canonical page is https://d3tenders.com/contract/?ocid=ocds-h6vhtk-079021. The underlying structured data is available as OCDS JSON at https://d3tenders.com/contract/ocds-h6vhtk-079021.json.