An additional bank holiday in honour of the Coronation of
His Majesty King Charles III will take place on Monday 8 May
2023. As this date had previously been announced as the first day
of the 2023 key stage 2 (KS2) test week in England, a change to
the KS2 test schedule next year will be necessary.
Ministers have considered the situation carefully and have
decided that KS2 tests will take place in the same week with
tests following the usual order but each taking place one day
later than originally planned. As such, the new schedule will be:
- Tuesday 9 May: English grammar, punctuation and spelling
(GPS) papers 1 (questions) and 2 (spelling)
- Wednesday 10 May: English reading paper
- Thursday 11 May: mathematics papers 1 (arithmetic) and 2
(reasoning)
- Friday 12 May: mathematics paper 3 (reasoning)
The KS2 timetable variation (TTV) window for each assessment will
also move back one day, in accordance with this change.
There will be no changes to arrangements for our other
assessments, including KS2 teacher assessments, key stage 1 tests
and teacher assessments, the phonics screening check and the
multiplication tables check. Dates and deadlines for these
assessments remain as previously announced.
In making their decision, ministers have considered the
views of schools and stakeholders including trade unions and have
sought to minimise disruption to schools arising from the change
in plans.
We are aware that schools may have booked events or activities
for their year 6 pupils on Friday 12 May. Where possible, schools
should look to rearrange or delay the start of any such events or
activities to accommodate mathematics paper 3.
Where it is not possible to change plans in this way then,
exceptionally for 2023, we will approve applications for TTVs
arising from booked residentials, trips or similar events
scheduled for Friday 12 May only. Schools will need to reschedule
the date of the test (mathematics paper 3) for the affected
pupils to one of the following five school days.
Note that we will not approve TTVs for any such events that are
scheduled on other test days, in line with existing rules. Other
TTV rules will continue to apply as normal for Friday 12 May,
including in relation to pupil absence or attendance at
alternative provision.
Our guidance, including the KS2 Assessment and Reporting
Arrangements, will be updated to reflect these decisions,
including any changes to other aspects of test administration
such as arrangements for the collection of test papers. We are
aiming to keep changes as minimal as possible. We will inform
schools via the Assessment
Updates when the revised documentation is available.
