Cheating in Primary School Exams on the Rise in England

Allegations of cheating and malpractice in primary school assessments in England have shown a notable increase in recent years. According to the 2025 report published by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA), nearly 700 cases were investigated over the year, marking the highest level since the pandemic.

While no data was recorded during the pandemic years, the number of investigations rose from 452 in 2022 to 579 in 2023, reaching 697 cases in 2025. This represents an increase of approximately 20% over the past two years. The report indicates that the majority of malpractice cases were related to the KS2 Sats exams, taken at the end of primary school. These exams accounted for around 90% of all investigated cases. Additional cases involved phonics screening tests and multiplication tables checks.

The most common form of malpractice involved schools completing or altering students’ test scripts. There were also instances where test administrators were found to have provided excessive assistance to students, raising concerns about the integrity of assessment outcomes.

As a result of the investigations, 49 test results were annulled, and the results of 24 students were invalidated directly due to confirmed cheating. Despite the rise in allegations, only about 4% of schools administering KS2 Sats in 2025 were investigated. Experts suggest that the increase in reported cases highlights the need to strengthen oversight and ethical practices within the education system. Education authorities have indicated that additional measures may be introduced to ensure the security and reliability of national assessments.