Schools shocked by delayed SATS results

Schools will receive the Key Stage 2 SATS results on 15 July

Key Stage 2 results, due for release today, have been delayed until 15 July following marking problems.

The National Assessment Agency (NAA), the group responsible for delivering National Curriculum tests apologised for the delay, explaining: ‘The main causes are the lateness in the completion of the marking process and a series of technical issues.’

Ofqual announced yesterday that Lord Sutherland will lead an inquiry into the problems with the delivery of the national tests, reporting both to them and separately to the Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families. Both reports will be published later this year.

Lord Sutherland, Chair of the independent inquiry, said: ‘I will report rigorously on the failure to deliver the results this year and make recommendations to ensure that this situation does not happen again. I recognise that children and teachers work hard throughout the year and so deserve to get the results of the tests on time.’

Schools will continue to receive the marked scripts, but have been advised by the NAA not to scrutinise the papers until the release of the results on the 15 July.

Many schools are concerned that the delay will lead to problems of reporting the results to parents and also to secondary schools as part of the transfer data. The NAA have listed a series of FAQs on their website answering many questions that schools may have around this.

Key Stage 3 results, also due for release today, have been delayed but have not been given a firm date for release.

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