Pearson has announced a delay in the release of SATs results for hundreds of thousands of Year 6 pupils in England, citing technical issues with the new SATs marking platform. The results, originally scheduled for release to schools on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, will now be delivered on July 16, 2026.
Technical Problems with New Platform
A Pearson spokesperson stated: "Pearson is announcing a delay in the delivery of SATs results, which will now be delivered on 16 July. This delay is the result of technical issues with the new SATs platform Pearson uses to support markers, along with technical issues in the transfer of data within the systems Pearson uses for SATs."
The company emphasized that this issue is specific to the SATs delivery process and does not affect GCSEs, A-Levels, or vocational qualifications, which operate through separate systems and processes.
Impact on Schools and Families
Individual schools typically share SATs results and teacher assessment judgments with parents shortly after the release date, often including them in the child's end-of-year summer report before the term ends. The delay means that many families will receive results later than expected, potentially affecting end-of-year reporting.
Pearson apologized unreservedly for the disruption caused to government partners, teachers, and families. The company also thanked markers affected by the technical issues, acknowledging their hard work and patience throughout the process.
Pearson's Response and Commitment
A Pearson spokesperson added: "We know how important SATs are to pupils, parents, teachers, and schools. Pearson is responsible for this delay, and we are sorry that this year's results have not been delivered to the original timetable."
The company stated that its priority is ensuring every school and pupil receive complete and accurate results. "We have a plan to complete the remaining work, and our teams are working around the clock to deliver the remaining pupil data," the spokesperson said.
What Are SATs?
SATs (Standard Assessment Tests) are compulsory national exams for Year 6 pupils (ages 10–11) in England. They evaluate progress in English (reading and grammar/spelling) and Mathematics. The results are used to track a child's academic development and to measure school performance against national averages.
The Department for Education has told parents: "SATs help to measure how your child is doing at the end of primary school and make sure they get the right support as they move into secondary school. They're not a pass or fail – they're a way of understanding your child's strengths and where they might need a little extra help."
