SATs results made irrelevant by teacher boycott, says NUT
Joe Lepper
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has branded latest Key Stage 2 SAT results as an "irrelevance" after the exams were disrupted by a teacher boycott.
The tests sparked controversy in May when a boycott by teachers meant that just 420,000 primary school pupils sat the exam, compared to an annual average of 600,000.
Around 4,000 schools took part in the boycott and in 20 council areas so many teachers boycotted the tests that there was not enough data to produce an area-wide attainment figure.
Teachers involved in the boycott say the tests hinder teaching and are part of an education system that focuses too much on league tables.
Christine Blower, NUT general secretary, said: "The actions of over 4,000 schools will be sufficient to render this year's league tables an irrelevance.
"As much as £20m in public money would be saved by a move to sample testing, which would be significantly more valid and not create a distorting effect on the curriculum."
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, added: "The real problem with SATs remains their high stakes nature. The elephant in the room is that any method of assessment which is used to judge teachers, schools and pupils like this will have the same outcome; children being taught to the test and stressed children and teachers."
The latest Key Stage 2 figures show a slight improvement on 2009’s figures in the proportion of 11-year-olds achieving Level 4 or above in English, writing and maths, but a two per cent drop in those achieving the same level in reading.
Schools minister Nick Gibb says the government is committed to testing primary school children.
He said: "Externally validated tests give parents and professionals valuable information to gauge the standards of our primary schools and their pupils, and play a vital role in accountability."
However, he concedes that they can be improved, adding "we will be discussing with all parties how to improve the effectiveness, accuracy and rigour of the tests".
Around 4,000 schools took part in the boycott and in 20 council areas so many teachers boycotted the tests that there was not enough data to produce an area-wide attainment figure.
Teachers involved in the boycott say the tests hinder teaching and are part of an education system that focuses too much on league tables.
Christine Blower, NUT general secretary, said: "The actions of over 4,000 schools will be sufficient to render this year's league tables an irrelevance.
"As much as £20m in public money would be saved by a move to sample testing, which would be significantly more valid and not create a distorting effect on the curriculum."
Dr Mary Bousted, general secretary of the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, added: "The real problem with SATs remains their high stakes nature. The elephant in the room is that any method of assessment which is used to judge teachers, schools and pupils like this will have the same outcome; children being taught to the test and stressed children and teachers."
The latest Key Stage 2 figures show a slight improvement on 2009’s figures in the proportion of 11-year-olds achieving Level 4 or above in English, writing and maths, but a two per cent drop in those achieving the same level in reading.
Schools minister Nick Gibb says the government is committed to testing primary school children.
He said: "Externally validated tests give parents and professionals valuable information to gauge the standards of our primary schools and their pupils, and play a vital role in accountability."
However, he concedes that they can be improved, adding "we will be discussing with all parties how to improve the effectiveness, accuracy and rigour of the tests".
