All schools received detailed information on statutory testing and assessment through the Key Stage 2 in the Assessment and reporting arrangements (ARA) document. The ARA was sent to schools in November 2011, and is available in the associated resources on this page.

Following Lord Bew's independent review of Key Stage 2 testing, assessment and accountability - National Curriculum tests in mathematics and reading will be administered in line with previous years' arrangements.

Interim arrangements will be in place for writing in 2012 - ahead of fully implementing Lord Bew's recommendations for writing in 2013.

A link to the review is provided in the associated resources on this page.

2012 test dates

The 2012 Key Stage 2 National Curriculum tests will be held in the week beginning 14 May 2012.

Externally marked tests will take place in:

  • mathematics
  • reading.

Externally marked level 6 tests in reading and mathematics will be available to schools in 2012 to administer to eligible pupils on an optional basis.

These tests will take place on Monday 21 May and Tuesday 22 May 2012.

Lord Bew's review recommended that the time in which pupils who are absent  - for a valid reason - can take a National Curriculum test should be extended to up to a week.

This recommendation is being trialled in 2012. The ARA provides details of how this will operate.

2012 KS2 English writing arrangements 

The interim arrangements for writing this year, will be similar to the approach at the end of Key Stage 1.

A pupil's writing result will be a teacher assessment judgment of their work across Year 6.

Teachers' judgements will be informed by and take account of - but not be limited by - the pupil's result on a standard test that will be sent to schools earlier in the spring term.

Depending on the school preference, the test can either;

  • be administered by schools at a time of their choosing, and then marked internally
  • held in test week - as in previous years - and be externally marked.

In either case, the test result will inform a teacher assessment judgement.

It is solely the teacher assessment in writing, and not test results, that will be published. This assessment  will contribute towards an overall English level and be used for accountability purposes.

A sample of schools' teacher assessment judgements in writing, will also be subject to light-touch external moderation.

In line with Lord Bew's recommendations;

  • moderation will look at the evidence from the ordinary marked work produced across Year 6
  • schools will not be expected to produce any additional work, or compile portfolios.

Schools are required to submit teacher assessment judgements for all pupils in the following subjects (including their attainment targets):

  • English
  • mathematics
  • science.

Full details of schools' statutory assessment responsibilities are published in the ARA available in the associated resources on this page.

Sample testing

As in previous years, a small number of schools will be required to administer a sample test in science. This test will be used to monitor national standards and will not be used for school accountability.

A small number of schools will also be required to administer a sample test in writing in 2012. This test will be used to monitor national standards and will not be used for school accountability.

Schools selected to be in either the science or the writing sample are sent detailed information about the administration by the Standards and Testing Agency.

Academies and Free Schools

Academies and Free Schools will be subject to the same statutory assessment requirements as maintained schools, as set out in their funding agreement.

Standards and Testing Agency

From October 2011 the Standards and Testing Agency (STA)became an executive agency of the Department. STA assumed responsibility for the development and delivery of statutory tests and assessments.