The number of investigations into maladministration of primary school tests increased to almost 600 in 2017, new data out today reveals.
A report shows the Standards and Testing Agency investigated 599 cases of maladministration of key stage 1 and 2 tests in 2017, up from 524 in 2016.
The agency conducted 73 investigations into KS1 tests, down from 77 in 2016, and 466 in relation to KS2 tests, up from 430 the previous year.
Just 0.4 per cent of schools that participated in KS1 tests were investigated, down from 0.5 per cent in 2016, while investigations into KS2 tests were carried out in 2.9 per cent of schools, up from 2.7 per cent.
The number of investigations into maladministration of the phonics screening check also soared from 17, or 0.1 per cent of schools in 2016 to 60, or 0.4 per cent of schools in 2017.
In 2017, 14.3 per cent of KS1 cases resulted in an amendment or annulment of results, up from 2.1 per cent in 2016. At KS2, 16.7 per cent of KS2 cases resulted in amendments or annulments, up from 15.1 per cent.
Schools remain the main source of maladministration cases for both KS1 and KS2, with 26.2 per cent of cases self-reported by schools and 21 per cent reported by local councils.
At both KS1 and KS2, the most common maladministration allegation was over test or check administrators over-aiding pupils.
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