Frequently Asked Questions about statutory assessment and moderation

We had a residential planned on Friday 12th May. This is now part of SAT week due to the coronation.

DfE state -

"We are aware that schools may have booked events or activities for their year 6 pupils on Friday 12 May. Where possible, schools should look to rearrange or delay the start of any such events or activities to accommodate mathematics paper 3.

Where it is not possible to change plans in this way then, exceptionally for 2023, we will approve applications for TTVs arising from booked residentials, trips or similar events scheduled for Friday 12 May only. Schools will need to reschedule the date of the test (mathematics paper 3) for the affected pupils to one of the following five school days.

Note that we will not approve TTVs for any such events that are scheduled on other test days, in line with existing rules. Other TTV rules will continue to apply as normal for Friday 12 May, including in relation to pupil absence or attendance at alternative provision.

Our guidance, including the KS2 Assessment and Reporting Arrangements, will be updated to reflect these decisions, including any changes to other aspects of test administration such as arrangements for the collection of test papers. We are aiming to keep changes as minimal as possible. We will inform schools via the Assessment Updates when the revised documentation is available."

Who do I contact regarding access arrangements?

Schools can use the ‘Message us – access arrangements’ form on the Primary Assessment Gateway.

We have a Y6 child who has been 'backclassed' and is not in their chronological year. Should they be entered for SATs?

Page 25 of the 2022/3 KS2 ARA states

“Pupils older than 11, who have not yet taken the tests as they are learning outside their chronological year group, must be entered to take them at the end of the academic year in which they complete the relevant KS2 programme of study. This is only applicable if the headteacher considers the pupil to be working at the overall standard of the tests.”

In other words, participation is dependent on the child completing the Key Stage, not their chronological age. However, there is a proviso about this only being applicable if the pupil is working at the overall standard of the test.

How do we ask for a review of marking for KS2 tests and is there a charge?

Details of marking reviews are at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/key-stage-2-tests-how-to-apply-for-a-review-of-key-stage-2-results

There is a charge of £9 (Marking review) or £5 (Clerical review) if the review does not lead to a change in marks beyond a specified threshold (see guidance).

Some parents that are potentially planning to boycott the KS2 SATS for their children, do we need to do anything about this?

Any such absence should be treated as unauthorised. We have seen very few boycotts of KS2 SATs in Shropshire. Parents should be reminded that secondary schools use the KS2 data to support transition into Y7.

We have recently had a pupil join our Year 6 class in the Spring term of Y6 from overseas. They speak their native language and some English. Will they be expected to sit SATs?

Headteachers make the final decision about whether it is appropriate for a pupil to take the tests. (Following discussion with parents, teachers, SENDco and appropriate professionals).

Pupils should not take the tests if they have not completed the relevant KS2 programme of study. It is possible that an overseas pupils joining in Spring of Y6 will not have completed the KS2 programme of study and therefore should not be entered.

We have a year 6 child who has recently arrived from abroad. Are they included in our performance data?

The information and link below is for the 2021/22 KS2 performance tables checking process but it states:

You can submit a request to remove a pupil from the calculation of performance measures if:

their first admission to a school in England was on, or after, 1 September 2020 (considerations can be made where a pupil has been placed at another school for an interim period while awaiting immigration status – please see ‘Other – Admitted from abroad with English not first language – exceptional circumstance’ below); and
English is not an official language of their country of origin; and
English is not their first language.

While we appreciate that some children may speak a tribal language, if they are from a country that reports that their official language is English, then requests will not be accepted.

For ease of reference, a list of countries has been added to the ‘Guidance/Documents’ page of the checking exercise website, indicating if a request to remove a pupil who has recently arrived from abroad would be accepted or rejected.

NPD Live KS2 Checked (education.gov.uk)