Probe leads to Colburn school's SATS results being annulled

Year 6 children at the primary school in Colburn, near Catterick, have had their Key Stage 2 Sats writing assessments annulled following an investigation.

North Yorkshire County Council was ordered to carry out the probe by the Standards and Testing Agency after concerns were raised about the administration of this year’s statutory teacher assessment of Key Stage 2 writing at Colburn.

And in the wake of that investigation the agency - which is responsible for developing and delivering all statutory assessments for school pupils in England -decided there had been maladministration and the 2018 writing outcomes for all pupils in Year 6 would be annulled.

The rest of the Key Stage 2 tests and assessments have not been affected.

The staff involved will now be subject to further investigation - and the authority says it has begun "appropriate employment procedures".

The chair of the school's governors, Angie Dale, said: “As governors we will work with the county council to ensure that no child is disadvantaged by this annulment.

“We understand how upsetting this must be for parents at the school and particularly for those of children in Year 6, but they must be reassured that their children’s education and transition to secondary school will not in any way be adversely affected.”

In a statement the county council said it would now work with secondary schools to ensure that accurate and fair assessments of writing would take place, to provide a secure baseline from which to measure progress from the start of the autumn term.

Executive member for schools Cllr Patrick Mulligan said: "We expect the highest standards of teaching, learning and assessment in the county’s schools."

He added: “Maladministration of assessment of any kind must not be tolerated and we will always act swiftly to ensure fair and proper practice and to safeguard the educational futures of our pupils.”