The Standards and Testing Agency (STA), an executive agency of the Department for Education (DfE), is responsible for the delivery of statutory National Curriculum Assessments (NCAs), including Key Stage 1 assessments (optional), Phonics screening check (statutory) and Key Stage 2 assessments (statutory). The current arrangements for the delivery of assessment operations for these assessments are due to expire following the delivery of assessments in 2029. To inform future decisions, STA has established the Future Service Management Programme to consider our delivery options. The programme is considering a range of potential options for the future delivery of assessment services. These services include, but are not limited to, print production, collation and logistics, scanning, marking, customer support services, systems provision, data processing and integration. The purpose of this Preliminary Market Engagement Notice is to advise the market of STA's intention to undertake early market engagement activities to inform the assessment of our options. This engagement is intended to improve STA's understanding of current market capability, emerging technologies, innovative delivery approaches, commercial models and potential opportunities and constraints associated with the future provision of assessment services. STA is seeking input from organisations with relevant expertise and experience in one or more aspects of the service. Details of the market engagement activity can be found in the engagement section of this notice. Following the engagement activities, STA may invite interested organisations to participate in further market engagement through questionnaires, workshops, requests for information or additional discussions. Feedback gathered through these activities will help shape STA's understanding of the market and support the development of future recommendations. Participation in this market engagement process will not form part of any future procurement evaluation and will not provide any supplier with an advantage in any subsequent procurement process. The publication of this notice does not signify the commencement of any procurement process and does not constitute any commitment by STA to undertake any procurement exercise. Any future procurement strategy will be determined following completion of the Delivery Model Assessment, approval of recommendations through the appropriate governance channels and consideration of government priorities. STA wishes to ensure that potential providers have early visibility of the programme and future opportunities to engage. This supports STA's objective of promoting open, transparent and inclusive engagement with the market, including Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). STA reserves the right to amend, suspend or discontinue any aspect of the programme or market engagement activities at any time without liability. Participation in this engagement process is entirely voluntary and participants will bear their own costs associated with involvement in any engagement activity. Any information provided by STA during market engagement activities is indicative only and should not be relied upon as a commitment regarding future service requirements, procurement arrangements or delivery model decisions. The Authority administers its procurement activity electronically through Jaggaer https://education.app.jaggaer.com , the Department for Education's e-sourcing system, and further details of any future opportunities will be published at the appropriate time through the relevant procurement channels.

Procurement Act 2023

The market engagement activity will consist of an online supplier engagement event delivered by STA. The event will provide an overview of the programme, the scope of services under consideration and specific questions on which STA is seeking supplier feedback. The main event will be held on 15 October 2026, see agenda below. All suppliers are expected to attend the Welcome and Introductions session. Following this, suppliers should attend only the session(s) relevant to the services they currently provide or are interested in providing. There is no requirement to attend the entire event. Event Agenda – 15 October 2026 • 09:00 – 09:30 Welcome and Introductions • 09:30 – 10:20 Print • 10:30 – 11:20 Collation • 11:30 – 12:20 Logistics • 12:20 – 12:50 Lunch • 13:00 – 13:50 Scanning and Marking • 14:00 – 14:50 Helpline • 15:00 – 16:50 Service Integration To support more detailed discussions regarding technology and systems capabilities, STA will also offer dedicated 60-minute one-to-one engagement sessions for system and data integration/reporting suppliers on 14 October 2026. These sessions will provide suppliers with an opportunity to discuss systems and data requirements, delivery approaches, integration requirements, reporting capabilities and other technology-related considerations. The available one-to-one session times are below. These will be given on a first come, first serve basis: • 10:00 – 11:00 • 11:00 – 12:00 • 13:00 – 14:00 • 14:00 – 15:00 Further details on how to register for the engagement event and book one-to-one sessions will be provided through the Department for Education's e-sourcing portal, Jaggaer, https://education.app.jaggaer.com , to access follow the "View Opportunities" link. Suppliers will then need to access the following SSQ: ssq_860 - Test Operations Service - Future Service Management Programme. Following the engagement activities, STA may invite interested organisations to participate in further market engagement through questionnaires, workshops, requests for information or additional discussions. Feedback gathered through these activities will help shape STA's understanding of the market and support the development of future recommendations.