SCORES of headteachers and teachers in Warwickshire are preparing to boycott this year’s primary school SATs.
A ballot by both the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) has ruled staff will boycott the exam, that tests pupils aged 10 or 11 in
English and maths.
Max Hyde, Warwickshire representative of the NUT, argues the tests make teachers stray from the curriculum so they can “drill and kill” what’s needed to pass SATs.
“We have done some research into the effects of SATs on children and league tables because we want to provide the best argument against them,” she said.
“These tests are simple pen and paper exercises that have been given too much of a prominence.
“Teachers skew the curriculum so they can prepare pupils for these exams.
“In America they call it ‘drill and kill’ where students are only taught what they need to pass their tests.
“And league tables don’t help schools either, we know wealthier schools will be at the top, and the more deprived lower.
“We’re not against assessing children, we know this needs to be done, but in these exams there’s so much emphasis on English and maths.
“We want to be able to teach more about arts and culture. I’ve spoken to some headteachers who think it would be wonderful if we could do that for a week.”
As a form of protest, teachers will not be opening the envelopes containing this year’s SATs papers, for the exams taking place from Monday May 10 to Thursday May 13.
It is up to schools on how they will boycott the exams. Action being taken could include giving students past SATs papers, or using internal exam papers.
Paul Wyllie, headteacher of Radford Semele Primary School, in School Lane, Leamington, is strongly opposed to the league tables SATs provide.
The branch secretary for Warwickshire’s NAHT added: “We are not opposed to testing; in fact given the option, most heads would retain the SATs test, but mark it internally and use the information alongside teacher assessments.
“What we are totally opposed to is the way the results are used to create ill-informed, naive judgements on schools.
“The league tables, for example, are great for sport, but we are not football teams competing against each other.
“We are the opposite, we are a school competing with ourselves to do the best we can for our children, and co-operating with others to achieve this aim.
“Because of the ‘high stakes’ associated with these tests our profession is extremely concerned about the narrowing of the curriculum in Year 6, as only English and maths is pushed, and children feeling pressure.
“We want to be able to administer tests at the end of KS2 in the same way KS1 and KS3 tests are, where tests only inform the teacher’s assessment that is based on their knowledge of a child over a year.”
A Warwickshire County Council spokesman said: “We have written to schools to remind them administration of the SATs tests are a statutory duty, and headteachers and governors should ensure their school meets the required assessment, and reporting arrangements.
“However, we do acknowledge the concerns of teachers around the marking of previous tests.
“As an authority we will continue to work closely with schools so tests are administered properly, and we will also work with policy makers to ensure any national tests are helpful to schools, parents, and pupils.”
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