Dated 11 May 2026
SATs week has arrived, and across the HeadteacherChat community the conversation has been a familiar mix of humour, nerves, logistics and last-minute checks.
One post summed up the emotional reality perfectly: a school leader woke early, checked emails and the SATs timetable, prepared to head in for SATs breakfast — only to be reminded it was Sunday and return to bed.
Alongside the humour, practical questions have also been coming through. One of the most discussed has been about the new online attendance registers on the NCA Portal: should schools complete them before or after the test? Members also raised concerns about the portal coping with thousands of schools logging in, with some saying they had printed or downloaded registers as a precaution.
This blog brings together the issues currently being raised by headteachers and sets out clear guidance based on current DfE, STA and Ofsted information.
SATs Week 2026: Key Dates
The 2026 key stage 2 tests take place from Monday 11 May to Thursday 14 May 2026.
The official timetable is:
- Monday 11 May: English grammar, punctuation and spelling papers 1 and 2
- Tuesday 12 May: English reading
- Wednesday 13 May: mathematics papers 1 and 2
- Thursday 14 May: mathematics paper 3
Schools must administer the tests on the published dates and in the published order, unless there are exceptional circumstances such as an approved timetable variation. Schools can choose their own start times and, where possible, should administer each test to the whole cohort at the same time.
Can Ofsted Inspect During SATs Week?
A recurring question from school leaders is whether Ofsted can inspect during SATs week.
SATs week is not listed as an automatic reason for an inspection to be deferred. Ofsted’s policy says inspections should normally go ahead unless there are exceptional circumstances. A deferral usually needs to be raised during the notification process, or at the first opportunity if inspectors arrive without notice.
If a school receives notification of inspection during SATs week and believes this would significantly disrupt the administration of statutory tests, the headteacher should raise this immediately and follow Ofsted’s deferral process.
The key message is simple: do not assume SATs week prevents inspection, but do raise significant concerns promptly and clearly.
Does the Headteacher Need to Be On Site?
Headteachers remain responsible for the proper administration of KS2 tests, including test security, confidentiality and compliance with the published guidance.
However, STA guidance recognises that another senior leader may act with delegated authority in the headteacher’s absence. The important point is that responsibility is clear, documented and understood.
If the headteacher is not on site for part of SATs week, schools should ensure that:
- responsibility has been formally delegated to an appropriate senior leader
- the delegated leader understands the test administration guidance
- test materials remain secure and confidential
- staff know what to do if an issue arises
- all decisions and incidents are properly recorded
Where schools are unsure, they should check expectations with their local authority assessment team, trust or relevant governance body.
Online Attendance Registers: Before or After the Test?
This is one of the practical questions currently being asked in the HeadteacherChat group. The short answer is: check the register details as soon as they are available, but complete and submit the test attendance information after the relevant test has taken place.
The 2026 guidance confirms that KS2 attendance registers are online for the first time. Designated school staff must review, update and submit the details for each test on the NCA Portal. The registers are pre-populated with school details, test details and pupil registration information, and schools are advised to check that this information is up to date as soon as the activity is available.
However, the actual attendance status depends on what happened in the test. The register asks schools to record which pupils sat the test, which pupils did not, and whether any pupil used an aid. This means that the attendance section should be completed after the test, once the school knows who actually took it and whether any additional details need recording.
For packing scripts, STA guidance says schools should complete the online attendance register after each test has been administered. If a pupil is absent and may return during the timetable variation window, their status should be left blank for the time being.
So the practical sequence is:
- Before the test: check the register is available and pupil details are correct.
- During/after the test: record who actually sat the paper and whether any aid was used.
- Before submitting: leave pupils blank if they may still sit the test through an approved timetable variation.
- Submit only when the register is complete and accurate.
What About Portal Concerns?
Some headteachers have understandably expressed concern about the NCA Portal being under heavy demand during SATs week. The official guidance does not suggest using an alternative system instead of the NCA Portal, but it does allow schools to complete attendance registers using Excel: schools can download the register, update it, upload it, and then check that the online register has uploaded successfully before submitting.
That makes a sensible contingency approach:
- check access to the NCA Portal early
- make sure the right staff have login details and MFA access
- download or print working copies where helpful for internal administration
- keep manual notes during the test if needed
- upload or complete the official register on the NCA Portal as soon as possible
- do not rely on paper notes as the final record
The official submission still needs to be completed through the NCA Portal.
Recording the Use of Aids
The Facebook discussion also picked up that the attendance register asks for information about aids used by pupils. This is correct.
STA guidance says that before completing the attendance register, schools should have attendance status information for all registered pupils and details of aid usage for each pupil who used aids during the test. If a pupil used an aid, staff must select “Record aid” for that pupil, enter the requested information, and save the aid data. This must be done individually for all pupils who used an aid.
This means schools should not treat the attendance register as a simple present/absent list. It is also part of the formal record of how the test was administered.
What Should Schools Do About SATs Materials?
Schools in England should receive their initial consignment of KS2 test materials during the week commencing Monday 27 April 2026. The consignment should include test papers, any ordered modified or braille papers, and stationery for returning scripts. Schools should check the full consignment against the delivery note and contact the national curriculum assessments helpline if anything is missing or damaged.
Headteachers should ensure all test materials are stored securely, access is limited, and unused test papers remain secure until Friday 22 May.
What If a Pupil Is Too Unwell to Sit a Test?
A pupil should only take a KS2 test if they are in a fit physical and mental state. If a pupil is absent on the scheduled day, schools must have an approved timetable variation before administering the missed test later. A missed test must not be administered until the school receives confirmation of the approved timetable variation.
If a pupil is absent and may return to take the test within the timetable variation window, leave their attendance status blank for that test until the position is clear. If the pupil does not sit the test by the final timetable variation day, or the timetable variation application is rejected, mark the pupil as A — absent.
It is important not to use B for illness. In the 2026 attendance codes, B means the pupil is below the standard of the test, not absent due to illness.
What If Something Goes Wrong During a Test?
Unexpected issues can happen: a pupil may become distressed, a paper may be incorrectly administered, a child may be disruptive, or a concern may arise around possible cheating or test security.
The starting point is always to preserve the integrity of the test, record exactly what happened, and follow STA guidance. The NCA Portal can be used to apply for timetable variations, notify STA about pupil cheating, complete online attendance registers and submit the headteacher’s declaration form.
Where there is a significant concern about test security or possible maladministration, schools should seek advice promptly through the appropriate STA route. Prompt, transparent reporting is always safer than trying to resolve a serious issue informally.
What About the Headteacher’s Declaration Form?
After the tests, the headteacher’s declaration form remains a key part of the process.
Schools cannot complete the HDF until all online attendance registers have been submitted on the NCA Portal. For schools where no registered pupils sit a test, the guidance says attendance registers must still be completed with the correct non-attendance codes, and the HDF must then be completed. The HDF is available on the NCA Portal from Thursday 14 May to Friday 29 May 2026.
The HDF confirms that tests have either been administered according to the guidance or that any issues have been reported appropriately.
Final Thoughts
SATs week brings pressure, and the posts in the HeadteacherChat community show both sides of that reality: the humour of leaders accidentally preparing for SATs breakfast on a Sunday, and the very real operational questions about online registers, aids, portal access and test security.
The key principles for the week are:
- keep test materials secure
- follow the published timetable
- check online register details early
- complete attendance information after each test
- record aid usage carefully
- apply for timetable variations before administering delayed tests
- do not test pupils who are not fit to sit the paper
- keep clear records
- report issues promptly through the correct route
- complete the HDF once all attendance registers have been submitted
HeadteacherChat will continue to monitor the questions being raised by school leaders and share practical, policy-informed support throughout SATs week.
- 2026 Key Stage 2 Assessment and Reporting Arrangements — statutory guidance covering the 2026 KS2 assessment cycle, including the test timetable, headteacher responsibilities, access arrangements and reporting requirements.
- 2026 Key Stage 2 Test Administration Guidance — practical guidance for headteachers, teachers and teaching assistants administering the 2026 KS2 national curriculum tests.
- Key Stage 2 Returning Test Scripts Guidance — guidance on receiving test materials, completing online attendance registers, recording aid usage and returning test scripts for marking.
- Key Stage 2 Tests: Returning Test Scripts collection page — the main GOV.UK page for the returning test scripts guidance and related updates.
- Ofsted Inspections and Visits: Deferring, Pausing and Gathering Additional Evidence — Ofsted’s current policy on inspection deferrals and pauses.
- Key Stage 2 Teacher Assessment Guidance 2026 — statutory guidance for KS2 teacher assessment and moderation.