Phonics Screening 2021
In June 2021, the 2021 Phonics Screening Test was scheduled to take place for all children in Year 1 in England. Children that were unable to take the 2020 Phonics Screening Test in June 2020 and throughout the second half of the Autumn term were expected to take the 2021 Phonics Screening Test in Year 2.
About the 2021 Phonics Test
Following the second major UK coronavirus outbreak in throughout the winter of 2020 and 2021, the decision was made to cancel the 2021 Phonics Screening Test.
2021 Phonics Screening Dates
Originally schools had the freedom to choose a day within the week commencing 7th June 2021.
2021 Phonics Screening - What Happened Next
Once the test was cancelled, plans were published (in a similar way to 2020) to allow pupils to take the test in the second half of the Autumn term, between October 2021 and December 2021, when they were in Year 2.
As happened in 2020 Phonics Screening Test, 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 2022 - the 2022 Phonics Screening Test.
Notably, Year 3 pupils who were originally due to take a retest of the Phonics Screening Test in June 2021 (when they were in Year 2) were not formally required to take the autumn check.
A with the 2020 Phonics Screening Test, it is not known what happened to the 2021 Phonics Screening Test PDF as it has never been published. It's likely to never be published or used in the future.
