To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Ministers had discussions with Pearson Education Limited before 1 July 2026 regarding risks to the publication timetable for SATs results.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether Ministers had discussions with Pearson Education Limited before 1 July 2026 regarding risks to the publication timetable for SATs results.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what date officials first became aware of risks to the publication of Key Stage 2 SATs results.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, on what date officials first became aware of risks to the publication of Key Stage 2 SATs results.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what was the total value of the contract awarded to Pearson Education Limited in April 2024 for the delivery of Key Stage 2 National Curriculum Tests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what was the total value of the contract awarded to Pearson Education Limited in April 2024 for the delivery of Key Stage 2 National Curriculum Tests.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the delayed publication of 2025 Key Stage 2 SATs results on pupils, parents and schools; what discussions she has had with Pearson regarding reported issues in the marking process; and if she...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impact of the delayed publication of 2025 Key Stage 2 SATs results on pupils, parents and schools; what discussions she has had with Pearson regarding reported issues in the marking process; and if she...

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of, and amount of time, that (1) teaching staff, and (2) school support staff, are working on activity relating to SATs during the school holidays.

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of, and amount of time, that (1) teaching staff, and (2) school support staff, are working on activity relating to SATs during the school holidays.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the delay in publishing Key Stage 2 SATs results on primary schools in Fylde constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of the delay in publishing Key Stage 2 SATs results on primary schools in Fylde constituency.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure (a) the adequacy of results issued by Pearson for this year’s Key Stage 2 SATs results, (b) that Pearson delivers future results on time and (c) that teachers have adequate access to appeals, in the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps she is taking to ensure (a) the adequacy of results issued by Pearson for this year’s Key Stage 2 SATs results, (b) that Pearson delivers future results on time and (c) that teachers have adequate access to appeals, in the...

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impacts of SATs on a) children with SEND, b) looked-after children and c) those eligible for free school meals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the potential impacts of SATs on a) children with SEND, b) looked-after children and c) those eligible for free school meals.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, will an independent review be undertaken into the management of this year's KS2 SATs marking process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, will an independent review be undertaken into the management of this year's KS2 SATs marking process.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, in relation to this year's delays to Pearson exam results, what steps are being taken to ensure that similar delays do not occur in future years.

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, in relation to this year's delays to Pearson exam results, what steps are being taken to ensure that similar delays do not occur in future years.

My Lords, I declare my interest as a teacher who has taught Pearson Edexcel at A-level. I will widen the Question a bit. The Government are complaining about Pearson and talking about the delays, but the annual Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance always comes out in the holidays, giving the safeguarding teams no time to get things organised before inset days. A couple of years ago, the Minister, the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, promised that it would come out in term time. Do the Government have any plans for that?

My Lords, I declare my interest as a teacher who has taught Pearson Edexcel at A-level. I will widen the Question a bit. The Government are complaining about Pearson and talking about the delays, but the annual Keeping Children Safe in Education guidance always comes out in the holidays, giving the safeguarding teams no time to get things organised before inset days. A couple of years ago, the Minister, the noble Baroness, Lady Smith, promised that it would come out in term time. Do the Government have any plans for that?

I will take away the noble Lord’s comments, quiz my noble friend the Minister in great depth, and we will reply to him in due course.

I will take away the noble Lord’s comments, quiz my noble friend the Minister in great depth, and we will reply to him in due course.

My Lords, Pearson has fully apologised for its failure to return the key stage 2 results on time and for the impact on schools, pupils and parents. The delay was unacceptable, but I can confirm that results have been returned successfully today. The Government will use all contractual provisions to ensure that Pearson is held to account for its failings, and there will be a full independent review into how such serious failings could have occurred.

My Lords, Pearson has fully apologised for its failure to return the key stage 2 results on time and for the impact on schools, pupils and parents. The delay was unacceptable, but I can confirm that results have been returned successfully today. The Government will use all contractual provisions to ensure that Pearson is held to account for its failings, and there will be a full independent review into how such serious failings could have occurred.

My Lords, I welcome the review. The Minister will know that the SATs exams at the end of year 6 are very important in the life of children and their parents. With results coming nine days late, some schools have already broken up, having broken up last week, and most schools break up tomorrow, so schools have one day to go through the results, identify any errors or anomalies, communicate with parents and be prepared to support children who did not reach the required standard. Will my noble friend the Minister explain to the House just what sanctions are available against Pearson? Does she not think it calls into question the wholesale outsourcing of important services like this? There are shades of the Capita issue in relation to Civil Service pensions.

My Lords, I welcome the review. The Minister will know that the SATs exams at the end of year 6 are very important in the life of children and their parents. With results coming nine days late, some schools have already broken up, having broken up last week, and most schools break up tomorrow, so schools have one day to go through the results, identify any errors or anomalies, communicate with parents and be prepared to support children who did not reach the required standard. Will my noble friend the Minister explain to the House just what sanctions are available against Pearson? Does she not think it calls into question the wholesale outsourcing of important services like this? There are shades of the Capita issue in relation to Civil Service pensions.

My noble friend raises several significant and important matters and explains that some schools have already broken up. We fully recognise the frustration and inconvenience this delay has caused for schools, pupils, families and, as he rightly says, teachers. Schools should expect results to be delivered to the published timetable. We are exploring all options for recourse, including financial penalties and termination of the contract. As I have said, the Secretary of State has confirmed there will be a full independent review. I can confirm that, as the Secretary of State announced today, it will be led by Dame Christine Gilbert, currently chair of Ofsted. Of course, further details and terms of reference will be set out shortly.

My noble friend raises several significant and important matters and explains that some schools have already broken up. We fully recognise the frustration and inconvenience this delay has caused for schools, pupils, families and, as he rightly says, teachers. Schools should expect results to be delivered to the published timetable. We are exploring all options for recourse, including financial penalties and termination of the contract. As I have said, the Secretary of State has confirmed there will be a full independent review. I can confirm that, as the Secretary of State announced today, it will be led by Dame Christine Gilbert, currently chair of Ofsted. Of course, further details and terms of reference will be set out shortly.

My Lords, this time of year is very stressful as school leaders come to the end of the academic year. I welcome the Minister’s statement today about a review, but what assessment have the Government made of the level of disruption and additional workload that primary schools now face because of the delay in publication of the key stage 2 results? Will the Government also look at what lessons can be learned from that review and commit to actually implementing those in future for national assessments?

My Lords, this time of year is very stressful as school leaders come to the end of the academic year. I welcome the Minister’s statement today about a review, but what assessment have the Government made of the level of disruption and additional workload that primary schools now face because of the delay in publication of the key stage 2 results? Will the Government also look at what lessons can be learned from that review and commit to actually implementing those in future for national assessments?

We enter into the review with full transparency, which is why we have set it up; it is absolutely crucial. We also recognise the delay, and I reassure the noble Lord that we have extended until 7 September the deadline for any applications for reviews of the tests that members of staff have to do, to give more time. It is so difficult at this time of year—everyone should be celebrating the end of the school year. Of course, key stage 2 is the end of the primary phase for most young people. So, it is a serious issue, and we are treating it with the respect it deserves.

We enter into the review with full transparency, which is why we have set it up; it is absolutely crucial. We also recognise the delay, and I reassure the noble Lord that we have extended until 7 September the deadline for any applications for reviews of the tests that members of staff have to do, to give more time. It is so difficult at this time of year—everyone should be celebrating the end of the school year. Of course, key stage 2 is the end of the primary phase for most young people. So, it is a serious issue, and we are treating it with the respect it deserves.

My Lords, it is extremely important that the transition between primary and secondary school is as smooth for children and well supported as possible. It is a traumatic time for everybody. If schools have broken up, teachers have no opportunity to support children who have not done particularly well, children with special needs and children with disadvantage. Secondary schools also have less time to consider the provisions they need to make. It is an extremely serious issue, and the Minister is obviously taking it very seriously. Is the review going to look at the options for outsourcing, and even whether there is capacity within the department to take it back in house and do it from the department’s point of view?

My Lords, it is extremely important that the transition between primary and secondary school is as smooth for children and well supported as possible. It is a traumatic time for everybody. If schools have broken up, teachers have no opportunity to support children who have not done particularly well, children with special needs and children with disadvantage. Secondary schools also have less time to consider the provisions they need to make. It is an extremely serious issue, and the Minister is obviously taking it very seriously. Is the review going to look at the options for outsourcing, and even whether there is capacity within the department to take it back in house and do it from the department’s point of view?

My noble friend is absolutely right: transition is important. Secondary schools do not rely on the SATs results immediately; they are used in a longer-term process. However, on her last point, I reassure her that, following the recent announcement from the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, a new public interest test will be applied before renewing expiring government contracts, in order to prioritise long-term value. Everything is on the table. We need to make sure we get the best

outcome for those pupils, and for the staff who do such a brilliant job supporting them through all the different stages of their education.

My noble friend is absolutely right: transition is important. Secondary schools do not rely on the SATs results immediately; they are used in a longer-term process. However, on her last point, I reassure her that, following the recent announcement from the Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, a new public interest test will be applied before renewing expiring government contracts, in order to prioritise long-term value. Everything is on the table. We need to make sure we get the best

outcome for those pupils, and for the staff who do such a brilliant job supporting them through all the different stages of their education.

My Lords, from 2011 I chaired the Department for Education’s independent review of key stage 2 assessment. We had many good discussions with Pearson during that time, and I am very disappointed by this recent debacle. One of the key things is the breakdown between Pearson and the markers, which seems to be at the heart of this failure. Can the Minister probe this when the investigation occurs? The review I was engaged in wanted to produce the most humane, creative key stage 2 set of tests. It was also motivated by a desire to maintain the UK’s significant position in world educational rankings. Nobody owes this country a living. So, this failure is not just a matter of the disappointment to schools and parents in the last few weeks; Pearson has to be told it has a role to play in maintaining this country’s overall placing in world educational attainment.

My Lords, from 2011 I chaired the Department for Education’s independent review of key stage 2 assessment. We had many good discussions with Pearson during that time, and I am very disappointed by this recent debacle. One of the key things is the breakdown between Pearson and the markers, which seems to be at the heart of this failure. Can the Minister probe this when the investigation occurs? The review I was engaged in wanted to produce the most humane, creative key stage 2 set of tests. It was also motivated by a desire to maintain the UK’s significant position in world educational rankings. Nobody owes this country a living. So, this failure is not just a matter of the disappointment to schools and parents in the last few weeks; Pearson has to be told it has a role to play in maintaining this country’s overall placing in world educational attainment.