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Sats tests: Second paper published online 'by mistake' Sats test 'leaked by rogue marker'
(about 1 hour later)
A grammar, punctuation and spelling test due to be taken by 600,000 children aged 10 and 11 in England has been accidentally published online. A grammar, punctuation and spelling test due to be taken by 600,000 children aged 10 and 11 in England was leaked online - with the Department for Education blaming a "rogue marker".
Sats answers appeared for a short time by mistake on a password-protected exam board site, the government confirmed. A DfE source accused an "active campaign by those people opposed to our reforms to undermine these tests".
It is the second time in three weeks a primary school exam has been accidentally published online. The Sats answers appeared for four hours on a password-protected website.
Labour said faith in the controversial tests - which have been the subject of parent protests - had been undermined. It is the second time in three weeks a primary school exam has been published.
Teaching union the NUT said they were "the wrong tests at the wrong time" and should be scrapped this year. It also follows a government climbdown last week on plans to force all schools to become academies.
Labour's shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said the leak was a further "body blow to parent and teacher confidence" in how the primary testing system was being run.
The DfE source said: "While the test doesn't appear to have leaked into the public domain and can go ahead, a rogue marker did attempt to leak the tests contents."
The education department says the test has not been compromised and the results will still stand.
They say about 90 people could have had access when it had been published and that it had not been put into the public domain.
"We are aware that Pearson, the external marking supplier responsible for Key stage 2 tests, published the key stage 2 Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling test on its secure marker site for a short period of time," said a Department for Education spokeswoman.
Teachers' union the NUT said they were "the wrong tests at the wrong time" and should be scrapped this year.
The exam, which is due to be taken by Year Six pupils on Tuesday, was published by test supplier Pearson on a site accessible to registered markers via a password.The exam, which is due to be taken by Year Six pupils on Tuesday, was published by test supplier Pearson on a site accessible to registered markers via a password.
The Department for Education (DfE) said it was urgently investigating the breach.
"The site can only be accessed by Pearson's approved markers, all of whom are under secure contract."The site can only be accessed by Pearson's approved markers, all of whom are under secure contract.
"Any distribution of materials constitutes a clear breach of that contract," said a DfE spokesman."Any distribution of materials constitutes a clear breach of that contract," said a DfE spokesman.
The government was forced to scrap a test for half a million children aged six and seven after it emerged that it had been posted with practice materials three months early.The government was forced to scrap a test for half a million children aged six and seven after it emerged that it had been posted with practice materials three months early.
'Lax attitude''Lax attitude'
Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, told BBC Radio 4's Today the tests should be scrapped for this year.Christine Blower, general secretary of the NUT, told BBC Radio 4's Today the tests should be scrapped for this year.
"The fact is they are very high stakes. They are the wrong tests at the wrong time and now they are compromised."The fact is they are very high stakes. They are the wrong tests at the wrong time and now they are compromised.
"We didn't like the tests in the first place, but the fact is the tests are compromised and it just adds to the general sense of chaos, about not just the curriculum but in particular about assessment this year."We didn't like the tests in the first place, but the fact is the tests are compromised and it just adds to the general sense of chaos, about not just the curriculum but in particular about assessment this year.
"So, we repeat that we think, for this year, the results of these tests should be scrapped and not used for any purpose whatsoever.""So, we repeat that we think, for this year, the results of these tests should be scrapped and not used for any purpose whatsoever."
Labour MP Lucy Powell, shadow education secretary, called for an emergency review. Labour's Lucy Powell called for an emergency review.
She told the Guardian newspaper the problems "call into question the ability of ministers in the department to properly manage our education system", as well as undermining parent and teacher confidence. She said the problems "call into question the ability of ministers in the department to properly manage our education system", as well as undermining parent and teacher confidence.
"Their lax attitude to delivering these assessments on time and in a proper fashion means that the work of thousands of children, parents and teachers could be for nothing," she said."Their lax attitude to delivering these assessments on time and in a proper fashion means that the work of thousands of children, parents and teachers could be for nothing," she said.
The new tests have been drawn up to assess children's grasp of the recently introduced primary school national curriculum, which is widely considered to be harder than the previous one.The new tests have been drawn up to assess children's grasp of the recently introduced primary school national curriculum, which is widely considered to be harder than the previous one.
The more challenging tests have been controversial - with parents claiming they make children stressed and anxious.The more challenging tests have been controversial - with parents claiming they make children stressed and anxious.
Almost 50,000 parents have signed a petition calling for a boycott of primary school tests and some kept their children off school on 3 May in protest.Almost 50,000 parents have signed a petition calling for a boycott of primary school tests and some kept their children off school on 3 May in protest.
The government has said it is determined to raise standards, and the tests reflected the "more rigorous curriculum", but the tests should not cause pupils stress.The government has said it is determined to raise standards, and the tests reflected the "more rigorous curriculum", but the tests should not cause pupils stress.