QCA eARA homepage Statutory requirements, information and guidance for national curriculum assessments

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7.2Changes to the statutory test timetable

Occasionally, changes to the test timetable will be allowed by the NAA for individual pupils or for a whole year group, subject to:

  • the pupil(s) taking the test(s) at nominated time(s)
  • the NAA being informed of any variation to the nominated time(s)
  • the pupil being kept apart from other pupils taking the test and the pupil’s
    parent(s) or carer(s) taking responsibility for making sure their child does not contact other pupils taking the test while he or she is not on the school premises
  • the confidentiality of the tests being maintained.

With the NAA’s permission and subject to the criteria listed above, tests may be rescheduled for the next school day or, in exceptional circumstances, two school days after the scheduled date.

Under no circumstances may a test be taken before the day specified in the statutory timetable. Two types of change to the test timetable are available, as detailed in the table below. If a school is in any doubt about the type of timetable variation to make, they should telephone the national curriculum tests helpline on 08700 60 60 40 as soon as possible.

Applications for and notifications of changes to the statutory test timetable must be made using the appropriate online form in the ‘Test forms’ section of the NAA website at www.naa.org.uk/tests. Schools will need to have their test forms username, password and LA/DCSF number to access this section of the website. For further information, see section 12.13.

Timetable variations

Application for a change to the statutory test timetable Notification of a change to the statutory test timetable between 7am and 7pm on the day of a test
What are valid reasons for a change to the test timetable?

The NAA will consider applications for a change to the test timetable for individual pupils or the whole cohort under the following circumstances:

  • unavoidable important appointments that cannot be rearranged, such as hospital  appointments, court appearances, national and international sports participation
  • schools being used as polling stations for local or general elections where it is not possible to continue with test administration in another part of the school
  • delays in the distribution of test materials that affect the administration of tests on the
    scheduled dates
  • observance of religious festivals
  • unforeseeable problems with the running of the school,  for example floods
  • having a short working day, for example in a pupil referral unit.

Schools must notify the NAA of a timetable change for individual pupils made on the day of a test. Examples of acceptable circumstances are:

  • a pupil being ill
  • a pupil arriving very late
  • a pupil arriving late as a result of an accident
  • moving a test to the afternoon for a pupil who arrives in school on the morning of a scheduled test with a broken arm to enable the school to put in place arrangements for an amanuensis.
What are not valid reasons for a change to the test timetable?

Under no circumstances must tests be opened and administered before the scheduled test date.

The NAA will not allow a change to the test timetable for:

  • family holidays or other family engagements
  • school activities, for example staff training events, field trips and excursions.
Schools must not make a timetable change on the day of a test between 7am and 7pm unless the headteacher can confirm that:

  • the content of the tests has remained confidential

and

  • the pupil has not had contact with other pupils taking the test at a different time.
What do I need to do after submitting the online form Regularly log in to the website to check the outcome of your application or to see whether further information is required. Nothing. This is a notification to the NAA of an arrangement made
by the school with the agreement of the headteacher.
What happens if a school varies the timetable without permission? It is maladministration for a school to vary the statutory test timetable without permission from the NAA or without providing notification to the NAA, as appropriate. Where this happens, pupils’ or the school’s results may be annulled and cannot be reported as part of the statutory assessment process.