Calls Mount to Nationalise SATs Marking as Delays Persist

Ongoing delays in SATs marking have intensified pressure on ministers to reconsider the role of private contractors in administering national assessments. Year 6 pupils and their schools rely on these results for secondary school transition arrangements, yet persistent logistical failures have left headteachers unable to finalise crucial data submissions or address individual pupil concerns. The calls for nationalisation reflect broader anxieties about the reliability of outsourced assessment services and the Department for Education's oversight of the examination system. Proponents argue that bringing marking services in-house would ensure greater accountability, reduce administrative burdens on schools, and prevent the annual cycle of disruption that affects pupils at a critical juncture in their educational journey. For local authorities, these delays create ripple effects across admission processes and place additional strain on relationships between primary and secondary schools. The debate underscores fundamental questions about how national standards are maintained and whether the current marketised approach to assessment serves the best interests of children, families, and the professionals supporting them.