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National Curriculum Tests

Asked by Jess Brown-FullerLiberal DemocratDepartment for EducationTabled Answered 17 July 2026UIN 17627

The question

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.

Answered by Georgia Gould

Statutory tests and assessments at primary school help measure the attainment of pupils in relation to the standards set out in the national curriculum and help teachers and parents identify where pupils may need additional support in a certain subject area. Key stage 2 tests are subject to robust test development processes, which include reviews involving serving teachers and experts in special educational needs and trials with hundreds of year 6 pupils. Where appropriate, schools can use a range of access arrangements to ensure that pupils with specific needs can access the tests.

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