Change of https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/key-stages-1-and-2-investigating-allegations-of-maladministration

Change description : 2026-03-23 09:30:00: Updated for the academic year 2025 to 2026. [Guidance and regulation]

Showing diff : 2025-03-24 09:30:39.255125974 +00:00..2026-03-23 09:32:21.629935136 +00:00

Statutory guidance

Primary assessments: investigating maladministration allegations

Procedures and guidance for local authorities about investigating claims of cheating, malpractice or maladministration in the national curriculum assessments.

From:
Standards and Testing Agency
Published
27 March 2018
Last updated
2423 March 20252026 — See all updates

Documents

National curriculum assessments: maladministration investigation procedures

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Key2026 key stage 2 and phonics maladministration investigation visits guidance

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Details

This guidance is for local authorities and provides details about investigating maladministration in the national curriculum assessments, including the:

  • reception baseline assessment (RBA)
  • key stage 1 phonics screening check
  • multiplication tables check (MTC)
  • key stage 2 (KS2) tests and teacher assessment

The investigation procedures outline how the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) investigates allegations of maladministration and covers:

  • types of maladministration allegations
  • roles and responsibilities
  • investigation and decision making processes
  • potential investigation outcomes and further actions

The investigation visits guidance explains how local authorities carry out school visits as part of STA’s investigations into allegations of maladministration.

Updates to this page

Published 27 March 2018

Last updated 2423 March 20252026 + show href="#full-history">+ show all updates

  2. Guidance updated for the academic year 2024 to 2025. Updates to the maladministration procedures include: additional examples of maladministration, details added to roles and responsibilities, changes to what information will be reviewed regarding the reception baseline assessment and in decision meetings, and changes to the treatment of single test annulments in key stage 2. Updates to the maladministration visits guidance include: clarification on keeping photographs from visits confidential.

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Update history

2026-03-23 09:30
Updated for the academic year 2025 to 2026.

2025-03-24 09:30
Guidance updated for the academic year 2024 to 2025. Updates to the maladministration procedures include: additional examples of maladministration, details added to roles and responsibilities, changes to what information will be reviewed regarding the reception baseline assessment and in decision meetings, and changes to the treatment of single test annulments in key stage 2. Updates to the maladministration visits guidance include: clarification on keeping photographs from visits confidential.

2024-03-25 09:30
Updated guidance for 2024.

2023-04-17 08:27
Updated for the 2023 test cycle

2022-03-21 14:40
Updated guidance for the current academic year. (The investigation visits guidance, remains unchanged and was last update May 2019)