Assessment

The latest news and analysis on exams in the UK, including key dates, timetables, results and statistics for Sats, GCSEs and A levels

Tuesday

12th Nov 2024

Boosting reading fluency ‘could halve KS2 gender gap’
Research also warns against making key stage 2 tests ‘too long’ so they’re largely assessments of reading speed
Reading speed

Friday

8th Nov 2024

Is this MFL’s ‘moment’ or will reforms hasten its decline?
Curriculum reforms offer a chance to boost the status of language teaching in schools, but there’s a risk they could do the opposite, say subject experts
Is this MFL’s ‘moment’ - or will reforms hasten its decline?

Thursday

7th Nov 2024

Nearly a third of students given more time to complete exams
School leaders say they need help as rising numbers of students ask for special arrangements to sit GCSEs and A levels
Nearly a third of students given more time to complete exams

Wednesday

6th Nov 2024

Higher history review finds marking standard did not change
SQA internal investigation states the sharp drop in Higher history passes was down to ‘the poor standard of responses’ from students, especially on the Scottish history paper
Death Road

Monday

4th Nov 2024

Maths anxiety hinders many pupils, say teachers
Maths anxiety is ‘extremely common and incredibly persistent’ and it can extend across generations, expert warns
Maths anxiety and unidentified dyscalculia hinder many pupils, teachers say

Wednesday

30th Oct 2024

‘Genuine risk’ Scottish education ‘will be left behind’
BOCSH group of Scottish secondary heads warns education secretary of signs that system is ‘no longer fit for purpose’ and says other countries’ reforms are ‘advancing rapidly’
Scottish Education left behind

Friday

25th Oct 2024

Rate of FSM students going to university decreases for first time
The gap between state and private school students going to top universities has also increased, according to DfE data
Serving food

Thursday

24th Oct 2024

1 in 3 senior leaders say Sats contribute to retention challenges
Only 3 per cent of leaders say they think Sats are a good measure of school performance
1 in 3 senior leaders says Sats contribute to retention challenges

Wednesday

23rd Oct 2024

Deadline for exam results checking extended due to data ‘quality’
Key stage 4 performance data will no longer be published this week
Deadline for exam results checking extended due to data ‘quality’

Tuesday

22nd Oct 2024

‘Far’ more errors in DfE exam results data than usual
‘Unacceptable’ errors in key stage 4 and 5 results data triggers call for deadline to be further extended, after it was already pushed back due to technical difficulties
‘Far’ more errors in DfE exam results data than usual
Exclusive

Monday

21st Oct 2024

Performance tables, Sats and Progress 8: time to think again
As schools await new performance table data, Sammy Wright says the fact we are now entering a two-year hiatus for Progress 8 offers the perfect chance to rethink how we measure impact
Hand frames

Friday

18th Oct 2024

Why do some schools still offer AS levels?
The Year 12 qualification has seen declining numbers since A levels were reformed in 2015. Yet some students still sit AS levels. Sixth-form leaders tell Ellen Peirson-Hagger why
Why do some schools still offer AS levels?