Exam board Pearson has postponed the release of key stage 2 Sats results for Year 6 pupils in England after technical glitches disrupted its marking and data systems.
The delay pushes the publication date from Tuesday, July 7, to Thursday, July 16, 2026.
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This marks the first year Pearson has managed the four-year, £180 million contract with the Standards and Testing Agency.
Government and Union Reactions
The Department for Education announced it is exploring options for recourse, including financial penalties and contract cancellation, while conducting a thorough review into the operational failure.
"Something has gone badly wrong," said Paul Whiteman, General Secretary of the National Association of Head Teachers.
The union leader emphasized that schools require immediate certainty regarding the data they will receive.
"Schools must be given cast-iron assurances that the results they receive are reliable," Whiteman added.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson expressed frustration on behalf of the educational community regarding the sudden schedule shift, calling it "deeply frustrating."
Pearson confirmed that its delivery systems for GCSE, A-level, and other qualification results remain entirely separate and unaffected by these specific technical problems.
Whiteman described the situation as "completely unacceptable" and criticized the timing of the announcement, noting the immense pressure already placed on school administrators.
"Totally unfair," he said, adding that school staff face strict accountability measures and expected equivalent standards from the private contractor.
"Schools are held to an extremely high standard when it comes to test administration," Whiteman said.
