You are here:
Key Stage 2 SATs: can parents withdraw their child?
Find out who decides which pupils participate in Key Stage (KS) 2 SATs, and get advice on how to work with and get buy-in from parents for the assessments.
Contents
The headteacher decides, but parents can appeal
The headteacher's decision on pupils' participation in the tests is final, but parents have a right to appeal it.
Find out which pupils are eligible and how to decide whether you should withdraw pupils.
How to get parental buy-in for the tests
You should:
- Communicate the importance of the tests to all parents - e.g. explain how results may influence their child's education going forward through inappropriate target grades, to help parents understand the consequences
- Focus on doing your best to prepare the pupil for the tests
- Take steps to help you understand the parents' point of view
- Try not to be accusatory (especially if all you have is a suspicion)
- Discuss with parents and teachers whether pupils should participate
This advice was given to us by the union ASCL.
Parents that don't allow pupils to attend on test days
You can't force parents to bring their child in on test dates.
- Key Stage 1 and 2 grammar, punctuation and spelling tests
- Key Stage 2 SATs access arrangements
- QuickRead: Key Stage 2 SATs in 2022
- Key Stage 2 SATs in 2022
- Key Stage 2 SATs: which pupils shouldn't take them?
- Standardisation and exemplification materials for writing (primary)
- Year 4 multiplication tables check: requirements and guidance
More from The Key
Bitesize training with a big impact
Our on-demand training has your whole board covered and lets them learn at a time and pace that suits them.
Help your new governors hit the ground running with our expertly-designed induction training, and our role-specific courses support your link governors develop key skills and confidence in their role.
New eLearning: DSL refresher training
Your DSL’s training should be refreshed at least once every 2 years.
Designed in collaboration with safeguarding experts, our 2.5 hour online refresher training course reminds DSLs how to put their knowledge into practice, with in-depth, real-world scenarios.
- Need-to-know: DfE publishes new statutory guidance on the cost of school uniform 19 Nov 2021 08:51
- Need-to-know: STPCD 2021 published 4 Oct 2021 10:30
- In the news: Your weekly round-up for 20 to 27 August 2021 27 Aug 2021 08:00
- In the news: Your weekly round-up for 6 to 13 August 2021 13 Aug 2021 08:00
- In the news: Your weekly round-up for 30 July to 6 August 2021 6 Aug 2021 08:00
The Key has taken great care in publishing this article. However, some of the article's content and information may come from or link to third party sources whose quality, relevance, accuracy, completeness, currency and reliability we do not guarantee. Accordingly, we will not be held liable for any use of or reliance placed on this article's content or the links or downloads it provides. This article may contain information sourced from public sector bodies and licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.