- 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
