A HEADTEACHER has resigned following the outcome of an investigation into Sats tests at a North Yorkshire school.

Mike Watt, head of Colburn Primary School, has resigned alongside a second member of staff – understood to be year six teacher Emma Kelly.

The resignations, made just before the Christmas holiday, come after an investigation launched in July after concerns were raised about the administration of this year’s statutory teacher assessment for key stage 2 writing.

The results were later annulled. North Yorkshire County Council has now confirmed that some pupils have had other Sats results annulled following the conclusion of the investigation.

North Yorkshire County Council worked with secondary schools to ensure children’s education and transition to secondary school was not adversely affected.

“We expect the highest standards of teaching, learning and assessment in the county’s schools” said Cllr Patrick Mulligan. “Maladministration of assessment of any kind must not be tolerated and we will always act swiftly to ensure fair and proper practice and to safeguard the educational futures of our pupils.”

Judith Kirk, North Yorkshire County Council’s assistant director for education and skills said: “The Standards and Testing Agency has written to the chair of governors at Colburn Community Primary School to confirm that key stage two test outcomes have been annulled for a number of Year 6 pupils who were involved in end of key stage 2 Sats last academic year.

“This follows the annulment of Colburn’s key stage two writing assessments after concerns were raised about the administration of the statutory teacher assessment of writing.

“We have supported Colburn Primary throughout the investigation and worked with them to inform the affected pupils’ new secondary schools to make sure that their learning is not adversely affected in any way.

“School governors are taking relevant actions to ensure that future processes for the administration of statutory assessments are comprehensive and follow national guidance.

“We will always act swiftly to ensure fair and proper practice and to safeguard the educational futures of our pupils. As with this process we will always investigate thoroughly so that families can always be confident of accurate and fair assessments of their children’s learning.

“The headteacher accepted that the outcome of the investigations of the STA did not serve the best interests of the school. Consequently, the school governors have accepted his resignation to leave at the end of the autumn term.

“Governors have secured robust interim leadership while they consider the longer term leadership of the school.”