We endorse the decision to cut back on Department for Children, Schools and Families consultants, it's about time the government stopped lining consultants' pockets.
Mary Bousted, general secretary, Association of Teachers and Lecturers
New assessment proposals
The one new proposal in Ed Balls's letter to primary schools is, remarkably, to increase the malign effect of school performance tables by creating a separate table for teacher assessment results.
The damage caused by the pressure to teach to the test will now be added to by pressure to enhance teacher assessment results for league table purposes.
I do not think that any head teacher in a primary school will find that attractive, or in any way think that this is an encouragement for the National Union of Teachers or the National Association of Head Teachers to call off their campaign against the current national curriculum testing structure.
If Balls seriously wants to resolve our issues, he needs to look at the impact of the current assessment structure on children, parents and teachers, and ask himself whether this is the best way of motivating pupils and teachers.
In short, a rehash mixed with exhortation and the proposal to create expanded league tables hardly represents new and fresh proposals on the table.
Christine Blower, general secretary, National Union of Teachers
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
