This briefing note considers the place for statutory testing in primary schools during 2020-21, in the light of the COVID crisis. The English system of primary statutory assessment, culminating in SATs tests in Year 6, was suspended during the 2020 lockdown. Yet many questions remain about how primary assessment should resume, given that COVID-19 may continue to cause disruption to children's learning in both the short to medium term. Our research project findings have informed the recommendations that follow and focus in this briefing note on three themes: (1) Whether a quick reintroduction of statutory tests will help or hinder pupils in making progress in the coming year; Whether statutory tests can accurately be used as school accountability measures, in the coming year; and (3) Whether more fundamental flaws in the current testing and accountability regime have been revealed by the COVID crisis and require urgent reform. [This briefing note stems from the research project, "A duty of care and a duty to teach: educational priorities in response to the COVID-19 crisis," funded by the the Economic and Social Research Council and co-investigated by Alice Bradbury, Sam Duncan, Sinead Harmey, and Rachael Levy.]