- Exam board Pearson has announced a delay in the release of Key Stage 2 SATs results for Year 6 pupils in England, pushing the publication date from July 7 to July 16.
- The postponement is attributed to "technical issues" encountered with the marking platform and the transfer of data within Pearson's systems, for which the company has apologised unreservedly.
- Teacher unions, including NAHT and ASCL, have condemned the delay as "completely unacceptable" and a "complete shambles," highlighting the significant disruption for schools, teachers, parents and pupils.
- The Department for Education (DfE) is considering potential financial penalties or even cancelling Pearson's £180 million contract, with education secretary Bridget Phillipson stating Pearson has "rightly" taken full responsibility.
- The incident has reignited calls from unions and campaign groups like More Than a Score for a review into the purpose and future of the national tests, citing the stress and flawed nature of the current assessment system.
IN FULL
Fury over SATs result delays as government considers scrapping £180m exam contract
