The number of primary schools investigated for maladministration during the Sats exams rose last year.

A report published by the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) today shows that 599 schools were investigated for maladministration in either the key stage 1 or KS2 tests and assessments in 2017 - a rise on the 524 investigations carried out in 2016.

Maladministration covers cheating by pupils, over-aiding by teachers and changes to test papers, as well as inflation or deflation of teacher-assessment judgements.

The statistics also show that in 2017, 78 schools had KS2 pupils’ results amended or annulled as a result of maladministration, including 22 schools in which the school had notified the STA - which runs the tests - about a pupil cheating; this compares with 65 schools in 2016.

Nineteen schools also had KS1 pupils’ results amended or annulled after investigation in 2017, including 10 that had the phonics screening check amended or annulled; this compares with two in 2016.

In 2017, 16,385 schools took part in the KS1 assessments and 16,022 schools took part in the KS2 assessments.