Pepe Di’Iasio, General Secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, comments on today’s publication of delayed Sats results and news that Dame Christine Gilbert will lead a review examining the issues which led to the delay.
“Congratulations to children and teachers on this year’s Sats in the difficult circumstances of results having been delayed. We called for an inquiry over this delay and we are pleased this has now been confirmed. It is important that lessons are learned so this does not happen again. A great deal of hard work goes into Sats tests, and children and teachers have been let down.
“Most schools break up for their summer holidays either today or tomorrow, which has left them with little time for the normal processes and support they provide to children and their families around the release of Sats results. In Leicester and Leicestershire, where the summer holidays traditionally start earlier, the situation is worse still as they have already broken up.
“All of this has put unnecessary additional pressure on education staff and ended the school year on a frustrating note. Imagine if this had happened to A-level or GCSE results. There would be a national outcry. Primary education deserves the same regard.”