Press release

Statement from STA about key stage 1 tests

Statement from Jennifer Coupland, Standards and Testing Agency Chief Executive, on the accidental publication of a live key stage 1 test.

Following an urgent investigation into the impact of the accidental publication of a live key stage 1 (KS1) grammar, punctuation and spelling test, the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) has issued the following statement.

Jennifer Coupland, Chief Executive of the STA, said:

We were made aware on 20 April that sample guidance material published by the STA, to be used with the modified version of the KS1 spelling test, contained the live test words rather than the sample test words. As soon as we were made aware, we removed the document from the website.

We believe this issue has arisen as a result of human error by a member of staff within the agency and a failure to follow appropriate clearance processes.

An immediate review is underway to establish the precise facts and we would like to apologise to schools and parents for any distress caused.

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Published 22 April 2016