Emily Holt

Pearson delayed the release of Sats results in England due to technical issues, shifting publication by more than a week and prompting strong criticism from school leaders who said the situation was unacceptable and unfair to staff, parents and pupils. The education secretary called the delay deeply frustrating, while unions highlighted concerns about workload, marking accuracy and the reliability of results. Pearson apologised and said teams were working around the clock to complete remaining data, as organisations demanded investigations to prevent future failures.

A technical failure at exam board Pearson has pushed back the release of England’s Sats results by more than a week, prompting strong criticism from school leaders and government frustration. The National Association of Head Teachers and the Association of School and College Leaders warned of pressure on schools, staff and families, raising concerns about reliability and the broader purpose of the tests. Pearson apologised and said teams were working to complete the remaining pupil data, while a marker described significant delays and accuracy issues. Calls were made for investigation once the immediate problems are resolved.