Due to technical issues, the following forms on the National Curriculum Assessments Portal will now be available from Monday 2 November (rather than Monday 12 October): 'Submit local authority monitoring and moderation agreement requests' form for academies and participating independent schools, 'Approve monitoring and moderation agreement requests' form for local authorities. Schools and local authorities can still discuss and put agreements in place before the forms open.
Guidance updated for the academic year 2026 to 2027.
Changed the deadline for schools to apply for a review of pupils’ KS2 test results to Monday 7 September.
On Thursday 2 July, the Department for Education sent a letter to schools confirming a change to the timetable for the release of 2026 key stage 2 test results. Schools were due to receive their results on Tuesday 7 July. However, results will now be available on Thursday 16 July. As a result, the deadline for schools to apply for reviews of marking or clerical errors will move back to Friday 24 July. We have now updated this guidance to reflect these changes. For more information, please refer to the Department for Education's letter: https://news.service.education.gov.uk/ph75/send/uq-5k4
On Thursday 2 July, the Department for Education sent a letter to schools to confirm a change to the timetable for the release of 2026 key stage 2 test results – we will update this guidance in due course to reflect these changes: https://news.service.education.gov.uk/ph75/send/uq-5k4
Date correction in section 4.1: "You must register new pupils for the tests if they arrive in school after Friday 6 March, until Thursday 21 May (the end of the timetable variation period)." Previously, this sentence incorrectly stated "until Monday 11 May (KS2 test week)" even though the correct "Thursday 21 May" date for this activity was already used correctly throughout the rest of the guidance.
Updated for the academic year 2025 to 2026.
Updated sections 2.2 and 6.3, to clarify that local authorities will carry out monitoring visits to schools between Tuesday 6 May and Friday 23 May. (Previously, the guidance mentioned these visits were between Tuesday 6 May and Tuesday 20 May, with some potential later visits - up to 3 days after the last test - in schools where tests were administered after the timetabled dates.)
Date correction in section 3.1 (Multiplication tables check): "Schools can access the MTC service via DfE Sign-in from Monday 28 April." Previously, this sentence incorrectly stated Monday 7 April. Across the rest of the document, the date was and continues to be correct (Monday 28 April).
Dates extended to register new pupils for the KS2 tests if they arrive in school after Friday 7 March – now until Thursday 22 May (previously until Thursday 15 May). Also added clarification that schools should order test materials from the national curriculum assessments helpline (0300 303 3013) if they believe pupils currently working below the standard of the KS2 tests may reach the standard by May 2025.
Updated for the academic year 2024 to 2025
Dates and deadlines section: deadline for additional time applications has been extended to Monday 27 April; deadline added for schools to submit notifications that pupils have used a scribe, transcript, word processor or electronic or technical aid.
Addition to 'Changes' section: tests marked on screen
National curriculum tests, 3.1. Third bullet changed to 'have recently joined your school from a different educational system' for clarity.
Following the publication of the Curriculum and Assessment Review Final Report and the associated government response in November 2025, future assessment arrangements are under review in line with the relevant recommendations. Assessment arrangements for the academic year 2026 to 2027 will remain unchanged.
This guidance is for:
all staff responsible for the multiplication tables check (MTC), end of KS2 tests and teacher assessment
headteachers and senior leadership teams
governors and trustees
local authority assessment co-ordinators
It applies to:
maintained schools
academies, including free schools
special schools, including maintained special schools and special academies
alternative provision (AP), including pupil referral units (PRUs), AP academies and AP free schools
secure units
Defence Children Services (DCS) schools and settings