Tiffnie Harris, Primary and Data Specialist at the Association of School and College Leaders, comments following the announcement that 2023 Key Stage 2 test results will be delayed by a week.
“This unfathomable decision will cause more workload and disruption for schools when they are already under intense pressure on multiple fronts.”
“For reasons outside of schools’ control, Key Stage 2 test dates have been moved back by one day. It's extremely frustrating that this is leading to results being sent to schools an entire week later than planned. The decision to move the test dates was made months ago and it is extremely discourteous that it has taken so long for this latest announcement to be made. The lack of warning means many schools are likely to have already made plans for this week, including residential trips and other end of year activities. This is going to cause significant disruption.
"This decision will be particularly problematic for schools in areas such as Leicestershire, which will have finished the school year before they receive these results. We presume that leaders and teachers in schools in this position will be expected to spend the first week of their holiday checking these results, writing reports and liaising with families. It is currently unclear whether the government anticipates providing any financial recompense for this. Either way, this is another example of a decision being made without due consideration of the impact on teacher workload.
“We have made all these points to the Department for Education and it is disappointing that they have fallen on deaf ears.”