Call Off 02 - KS1 (WP01) & KS2 (WP02) English Reading (STA Item Writing Services Framework)

Department for Education
Selective procedure
18 May 2026 to 19 April 2027

The contract involves enjoyment trialling of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 English reading texts, alongside informal trialling of assessment items within schools across multiple UK regions. The work is split into two distinct work packages with staggered completion dates, focusing on the validation and testing of educational materials for the Standards and Testing Agency.

Open the official notice

Awarded value: £164k; As published
Published: 8 June 2026
Awarded: 18 May 2026; National Foundation for Educational Research
Contract length: 11 months; Ends 19 April 2027

What the contract covers

Independent work package

Provision of educational assessment development services, including text trialling and item testing for national curriculum reading assessments in schools.

Enjoyment trialling of Key Stage 1 English reading texts
Informal trialling of Key Stage 1 reading items within schools
Enjoyment trialling of Key Stage 2 English reading texts
Informal trialling of Key Stage 2 reading items within schools

Terms and requirements

Contract type: Independent work package
Procedure: Selective procedure
Initial term: 11 months
Contract dates: 18 May 2026 to 19 April 2027
Certifications asked for: None stated
Suitable for SMEs: Yes
Suitable for charities and social enterprises: Yes
Category: Services
CPV codes: 80000000

Services in this contract

Test development, standardised tests and markingMain service£91k typicalKS1 and KS2 English reading text and item trialling

Lifecycle

Published
8 June 2026
Contract awardedto National Foundation for Educational Research
18 May 2026
Contract starts
18 May 2026
Contract ends
19 April 2027

The buyer

Department for Education

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The supplier

National Foundation for Educational Research

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Main buyers

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Cite this contract

Link: https://bidskim.com/tender/3626652/call-off-02-ks1-wp01-and-ks2-wp02-english-reading-sta-item-writing-services-fram
Buyer reference: tender_516902/1583196
Open contracting ID: ocds-b5fd17-188ce191-37cf-4ba0-9a80-f4f11911432f
Last checked: 5 November 2026

Department for Education. Call Off 02 - KS1 (WP01) & KS2 (WP02) English Reading (STA Item Writing Services Framework). Contract award, 8 June 2026. BidSkim, https://bidskim.com/tender/3626652/call-off-02-ks1-wp01-and-ks2-wp02-english-reading-sta-item-writing-services-fram (accessed 5 November 2026).