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Parents keep children off school in test protest | Parents keep children off school in test protest |
(35 minutes later) | |
Parents are keeping their children off school for the day in a protest about primary tests in England. | Parents are keeping their children off school for the day in a protest about primary tests in England. |
More than 40,000 parents have signed a petition calling for a boycott of primary school tests, which are due to be taken later this month. | More than 40,000 parents have signed a petition calling for a boycott of primary school tests, which are due to be taken later this month. |
Parents supporting the Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign have complained of a damaging culture of over-testing. | Parents supporting the Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign have complained of a damaging culture of over-testing. |
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says taking pupils out of school "even for a day is harmful to their education". | Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says taking pupils out of school "even for a day is harmful to their education". |
It remains uncertain how many primary school children are being kept off school across the country, but a social media campaign has been urging parents to take children on educational activities for the day. | It remains uncertain how many primary school children are being kept off school across the country, but a social media campaign has been urging parents to take children on educational activities for the day. |
About 500 people gathered at Preston Park in Brighton, including children's laureate Chris Riddell. | About 500 people gathered at Preston Park in Brighton, including children's laureate Chris Riddell. |
"We should be turning children into readers with the pleasure that gives rather than relying on a testing culture," said Mr Riddell. | "We should be turning children into readers with the pleasure that gives rather than relying on a testing culture," said Mr Riddell. |
Parents have handed in the petition at the headquarters of the Department for Education in London. | Parents have handed in the petition at the headquarters of the Department for Education in London. |
The campaign organisers say children are "over-tested, over-worked and in a school system that places more importance on test results and league tables than children's happiness and joy of learning". | The campaign organisers say children are "over-tested, over-worked and in a school system that places more importance on test results and league tables than children's happiness and joy of learning". |
They have raised concerns about the impact of primary tests, so-called Sats tests, taken by seven-year-olds and 11-year-olds, which are being made more stretching with changes to the curriculum. | |
They have challenged what they claim is a "dull, dry curriculum" based around tests. | They have challenged what they claim is a "dull, dry curriculum" based around tests. |
In an open letter to the education secretary, campaigners have warned of schools becoming "exam factories" and that testing causes stress and can make young children feel like "failures". | In an open letter to the education secretary, campaigners have warned of schools becoming "exam factories" and that testing causes stress and can make young children feel like "failures". |
But Education Minister Nick Gibb said tests improved standards. | But Education Minister Nick Gibb said tests improved standards. |
"Schools should not be putting pressure on young people when taking these assessments. | |
"I've been to many schools where the children don't even know they're taking the tests," said Mr Gibb. | |
The importance of testing was emphasised by Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education. | |
He said that any short-term stress was worth it if in the longer term it meant that children finished school with better results. | He said that any short-term stress was worth it if in the longer term it meant that children finished school with better results. |
Schools minister Nick Gibb was given a question on BBC Radio 4's World at One from a grammar test for 11 year olds | |
Martha Kearney: Let me give you this sentence: I went to the cinema, after I'd eaten my dinner. Is the word "after" there being used as a subordinating conjunction or a preposition? | |
Nick Gibb: Well it's a preposition. | |
Martha Kearney: I don't think it is | |
Nick Gibb: "After" is a preposition. It can be used in some contexts as a word that coordinates a sub-clause, but this isn't about me. | |
Martha Kearney: But I think in this sentence it's being used as a subordinating conjunction | |
Nick Gibb: Fine, well this isn't about me, this is about ensuring that future generations of children - unlike me incidentally, who was not taught grammar at primary school..... | |
Martha Kearney: Perhaps not. | |
Nick Gibb: ...We need to make sure that future generations of children are taught grammar.") | |
Mr McGovern said that tests in England's schools needed to be tougher to catch up with international competitors. | Mr McGovern said that tests in England's schools needed to be tougher to catch up with international competitors. |
"We're three years behind the Chinese at the age of 15. We are a bit of a basket case internationally. | "We're three years behind the Chinese at the age of 15. We are a bit of a basket case internationally. |
"We've got to do something, we've got to act early, and a health check at seven is a good idea." | "We've got to do something, we've got to act early, and a health check at seven is a good idea." |
Ministers have already had problems with the administration of primary school tests this year. | Ministers have already had problems with the administration of primary school tests this year. |
The baseline tests, which were intended to be a benchmark for measuring progress, were found to have unreliable results and have been postponed. | The baseline tests, which were intended to be a benchmark for measuring progress, were found to have unreliable results and have been postponed. |
Tests for seven-year-olds in spelling, punctuation and grammar also had to be called off when it was found that test questions had mistakenly been published on a Department for Education website. | Tests for seven-year-olds in spelling, punctuation and grammar also had to be called off when it was found that test questions had mistakenly been published on a Department for Education website. |
Labour's shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said she did not "condone children being taken out of school". | Labour's shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said she did not "condone children being taken out of school". |
But she accused the government of "creating chaos and confusion in primary assessment". | But she accused the government of "creating chaos and confusion in primary assessment". |
Russell Hobby, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "I think the gap between the profession and the government has never been wider than it is at the moment." | Russell Hobby, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "I think the gap between the profession and the government has never been wider than it is at the moment." |
He warned of "an enormous number of mistakes, delays and confusions around testing". | He warned of "an enormous number of mistakes, delays and confusions around testing". |
But Education Secretary Nicky Morgan has argued that raising standards will improve creativity and not restrict it. | |
"How creative can a child be if they struggle to understand the words on the page in front of them?" Mrs Morgan told head teachers at the weekend. | |
"That is why the campaign led by some of those who do not think we should set high expectations, who want to keep their children home for a day is so damaging. | |
"Keeping children home, even for a day is harmful to their education." | |
Are you keeping your child off school for the day? You can share your comments about Sats by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. | Are you keeping your child off school for the day? You can share your comments about Sats by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk. |
Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: | Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also contact us in the following ways: |
Or use the form below | Or use the form below |