Primary schools’ Sats tests to be overseen by Government agency

The decision follows an investigation into the Standard Assessment Tests (Sats) at Brookfield Primary Academy, in Swinton, last year which did not find any maladministration.

The investigation led to a delay in the results of the 11-year-olds being published last summer until the school was cleared.

Brookfield is part of the Sandhill multi-academy trust which also runs two other primary schools: Sandhill and Monkwood, both in Rawmarsh. The trust said the allegations which led to the investigation at Brookfield had been unfounded and that it had asked the Standards and Testing Agency to come in this year.

A STA spokesman said it was sending officials to the schools for this year’s tests because “the Sandhill multi-academy trust had challenges to overcome in terms of the administration of Sats.” He added: “It has agreed with the trust for an STA official will be present during the testing period.” He confirmed the agency would have a presence at all three schools within the academy chain during the testing.

A statement from the Sandhill Academy Trust said: “We are working with the STA who will be invigilating the key stage two Sats at Brookfield Primary Academy at the trust’s request, to ensure that both children and parents can be confident in a fair assessment and no delay in receiving their results, following the unfounded accusations made in 2014”. The trust added that its other two academies could be invigilated by the STA, “as is their common practise and regulation to do so.”