Phonics Screening 2020
In June 2020, the 2020 Phonics Screening Test was scheduled to take place for all children in Year 1 in England. Children that failed the 2012 Phonics Screening Test (when they were in Year 1) were expecting to take the 2012 Phonics Screening Test in Year 2.
About the 2020 Phonics Test
Following the first UK coronavirus outbreak in February 2020, the decision was made to cancel the 2020 Phonics Screening Test.
2020 Phonics Screening Dates
Originally schools had the freedom to choose a day within the week commencing 8th June 2020.
2020 Phonics Screening - What Happened Next
Once the test was cancelled, plans were published in September 2020 to allow pupils to take the test in the second half of the Autumn term, between October 2020 and December 2020, when they were in Year 2.
Rather than use the 2020 Phonics Screening Test as planned, schools were told to use either the 2017 Phonics Screening Test, 2018 Phonics Screening Test or 2019 Phonics Screening Test. The pass mark would be the same as whatever was used in the respective past phonics test and marks had to be submitted to the STA before the end of term. Minor pupil absense was not considered to be a problem as the STA allowed schools to administer the test throughout the entirety of the second half of term. However, pupils that were absent throughout the whole of term were required to take the test in June 2021 - the 2021 Phonics Screening Test.
It is not known what happened to the 2020 Phonics Screening Test PDF as it has never been published. It's likely to never be published or used in the future.
