DfE agrees to change primary assessment deadline

Following the National Association of Head Teachers’ (NAHT) concerns about the changes in primary assessment, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced a revised deadline for Key Stage 1 and 2 deadlines in 2016.

Schools Minister Nick Gibb declared the change will apply to this year only and will mean the deadline will be re-instated to the end of June. The review has been granted to help teachers cope with a revised framework to new standards in primary assessment.

In a statement, Gibb said: “The rationale for setting the earlier deadline this year was to ensure that all schools submit their teacher assessment data at the same time, after their own internal validation processes have been completed, but prior to any external moderation taking place. This move would mean fairer and more robust arrangements for the collection of teacher assessment data.

“However, I am prepared, for this year only, to relax the deadlines in recognition of the unique circumstance of teachers working with a new framework to new standards. I have asked the STA to amend their Assessment and Reporting Arrangements to reflect an amended deadline for KS1 and KS2 of 30 June and to communicate the change to all primary schools.”

He added: “The NAHT’s readiness to work with us, rather than use the media to scaremonger, has meant that we have been able to have a sensible discussion.

“As a result we have made changes, which I hope will allay teachers’ concerns about workload and disruption, allowing us to continue working towards the goal we all want to achieve – the best possible education for all our children.”