SATs markers given more time and money due to online glitches

Markers of year 6 SATs have been given more time to finish processing papers and a pay bonus, after facing weeks of technical glitches on a new Pearson-run system.

Schools Week previously revealed how markers had been locked out of some questions on the new platform created by exams giant Pearson, which took over the SATs contract from outsourcer Capita this year. 

They were also slowed down due to delays in the system loading. 

Now markers are being given an extra four days – until Sunday – to finish the papers, although Pearson said exam results will still be delivered as planned on 7 July. 

Markers will also get a 20 per cent pay increase for all papers assessed after 3 June, according to an email seen by Schools Week. 

‘Plagued by technical issues’

One marker, who wished to be anonymous, said the online marking system was still “plagued by technical issues”.

She added: “Delays between questions can be as long as a minute, significantly reducing productivity and causing considerable frustration. 

“When problems are escalated, the support staff are friendly and helpful, but they appear to have limited authority to resolve issues. Cases are simply passed further up the chain, often with no response or resolution.”

She added the pay uplift was an acknowledgment “that markers are spending hours logged into the system while completing far less marking than expected due to the platform’s poor performance”. 

A Pearson spokesperson said: “We have adjusted pay for markers to recognise their hard work and to thank them for their professionalism and commitment during this busy period. 

“We also know that some markers have experienced issues with the online marking system.”

The issues began during the training, which involved markers having to review a set of questions already marked by Pearson. Those who fail to issue the same mark are locked out and unable to mark the same question in real papers.

But markers found the system glitched during the training, which meant the wrong mark was given for questions. The marker would then be locked out of assessing that question in real papers.

Pearson created an online form for markers who had questions that needed to be reset, so they could mark those questions in real papers.

A marker told Schools Week said she was still locked out of marking four questions. “Despite agreement that the problem lies with the platform rather than my marking, no one has been able to restore my access,” she said.

Delayed access to portal

The Standards and Testing Agency (STA) also told trusts they will not get access to set up accounts on the new National Curriculum Assessments portal until 15 June. 

It was supposed to send emails with the account set-up process to previous users of Capita’s Primary Assessment Gateway on 1 June.

A Pearson spokesperson said the revised date for accessing the portal was “separate from the marking process and does not affect the delivery of results to schools”.

This is the first year that Pearson has managed SATs tests since winning back the £180 million contract from Capita.

A government review found Capita’s first year overseeing the tests in 2022 caused “significant frustration and inconvenience” to schools.

When contacted for comment, Ofqual said it closely monitored all aspects of how KS2 tests are delivered, including marking.

It said the national assessments delivery report, which provides details of this year’s delivery series, will be published later in the year.