Statutory Assessment Timetable - Leeds Council

Leeds, England schools follow national statutory assessment arrangements for key stage assessments (commonly called SATs) and other statutory checks. The national Department for Education sets the test windows and administration rules, while Leeds City Council and local school leaders coordinate local arrangements, absence requests and parental communications. This guide summarises the timetable approach, who enforces attendance and assessment duties, common violations, appeals and practical steps for parents and schools to prepare for test weeks and statutory assessment periods. For national test administration and reporting rules see the official guidance linked below.National curriculum assessments: key stage 1 and key stage 2^[1]

Overview of the timetable and roles

Timetables for SATs (key stage 1 and key stage 2) are published by central government; schools receive test materials and administration instructions from authorised suppliers and the local authority may provide coordination and moderation support. Individual schools set internal timetables for preparation, but must administer tests within the national windows and follow Department for Education (DfE) administration guidance.Guidance on national assessment dates and administration^[1]

• National test windows: set by the Department for Education; schools must follow the published windows.
• Special access arrangements: schools apply following DfE guidance and keep documentation.
• Local coordination: Leeds City Council school improvement and attendance teams liaise with maintained schools for timetabling and moderation.

Penalties & Enforcement

Enforcement around statutory assessments typically relates to unauthorised pupil absence during test periods and failures in statutory duties by maintained school leaders (for example, failure to submit required assessment data). Penalty notices and prosecution for unauthorised absence are administered by the local authority; the national guidance on penalty notices and sanctions describes common penalty amounts and outcomes.Penalty notices and attendance enforcement^[2]

• Fine amounts: see national guidance for penalty notice levels and payment windows; amounts are stated on the cited page.
• Escalation: unpaid penalty notices can lead to prosecution or other court action as described on the enforcement guidance.
• Non-monetary sanctions: prosecution, court orders and parenting orders may follow for persistent unauthorised absence or serious breaches.
• Enforcer: the local authority (Leeds City Council) education or attendance enforcement team issues notices and coordinates with schools and police where necessary.
• Appeal/review: formal appeals against penalty notices or prosecutions follow the process set out in the national guidance and court procedure; specific time limits are described on the cited page.

Applications & Forms

For SATs and statutory assessments, parents do not normally submit a test application; schools administer statutory tests and submit results to the DfE or awarding body as required. For absence permissions during assessment windows parents should use the school’s usual absence request process. Specific forms for special access arrangements or exam adjustments are managed by schools and exam officers following DfE instructions; the national guidance explains required documentation and submission routes.

• Special access applications: handled by the school’s SENCo or exam officer under DfE rules.
• Submission of results and statutory returns: schools submit via the channels specified in DfE administration guidance.
• Absence requests during tests: submit to the school; the local authority provides enforcement support for unauthorised absence.

Common violations and typical outcomes

• Unauthorised absence during test week — may trigger a penalty notice or prosecution.
• Failure to follow DfE administration instructions by the school — local authority advisory action or formal investigation for maintained schools.
• Insufficient evidence for special access arrangements — arrangement refused and records reviewed.

Action steps

• Parents: check your school’s published test weeks and notify the school promptly for unavoidable absence.
• Schools: follow the DfE administration guidance and retain paperwork for special access and moderation checks.
• Report problems: contact your school in the first instance and Leeds City Council school attendance service for enforcement queries.

FAQ

When are SATs held?

National SATs windows are set by the Department for Education; schools administer tests within those published windows and publish local arrangements to parents. See national guidance for dates and administration details.^[1]

Can parents request time off during SATs?

Parents must request leave through the school; unauthorised absence during test periods can lead to penalty notices or prosecution under attendance enforcement guidance.^[2]

Who enforces attendance and issues penalty notices?

The local authority (Leeds City Council) is responsible for issuing penalty notices and pursuing enforcement in line with the national guidance; contact details are in the resources below.

How-To

1. Check the national assessment guidance and your school’s published timetable for the current test window and instructions.
2. Inform the school promptly of any planned absence and submit the school’s absence request form following its policy.
3. If your child has additional needs, contact the school SENCo well before test windows to arrange special access and collect required evidence.
4. If you receive a penalty notice you believe is incorrect, follow the review and appeal process set out in the enforcement guidance and contact the local authority for details.

Key Takeaways

• National bodies set SATs windows; Leeds schools implement them and coordinate locally.
• Unauthorised absence during tests can trigger penalty notices and further action by the local authority.

Help and Support / Resources

• Leeds City Council - Schools and education
• Leeds City Council - School attendance and absence
• Leeds City Council - Contact page for education services
• Department for Education - GOV.UK

1. [1] GOV.UK National curriculum assessments: key stage 1 and key stage 2
2. [2] GOV.UK School attendance and penalty notices