Pupils had been expecting to receive their SAT exams results this week  The controversy over the 2008 national curriculum tests has escalated as heads across the country contacted the National Association of Head Teachers with reports of poor quality marking. The results have already been delayed by a week.  "The row is only beginning," Mick Brookes, the leader of the NAHT said.  The NAHT has advised schools to regard the test results as a "provisional" mark and to give parents the teachers' assessments of their children as well.  The action has been advised because of concerns over disparities and mistakes in the marking of the exam papers.  Doubts over the accuracy of the marking will more than likely mean a spate of appeals, further undermining the credibility of the qualifications taken by 11 and 14-year-olds.  "We're getting calls about the quality of marking. In one case there was no marking at all," said Mr Brookes.  "The papers sent back to the school were completely blank."  Earlier this week Jim Knight, the schools minister, said the marking would be as reliable as last year echoing a promise made by the National Assessment Agency, exams watchdog.  But Mr Brookes said: "This is a complete mess. There are widespread concerns in every area."  Pupils had been expecting to receive their results this week until it emerged that the process had been delayed.  The marking of Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 tests is being administered by ETS Europe - an offshoot of an American firm brought in to manage exams - for the first time this year. The five-year deal was worth £156 million.  But senior examiners have complained of numerous errors surrounding the firm's handling of the tests.  They said papers were not delivered on time, an online system to register results failed to work and training was late or inadequate.  Emergency marking centres have been set up - working seven days a week - in an attempt to clear the backlog.  An inquiry has been launched into delay by Ofqual, the independent qualifications regulator.  Have your say: Are you concerned?
Headteachers are reporting widespread concerns with the reliability of marking in the SATs exams taken by 1.2million children across England.