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Pupils may be tested more often School tests to face shake-up
(20 minutes later)
Schools in England are to pilot a scheme examining whether national tests should be replaced by more frequent, but shorter, assessments, Schools in England are to pilot a scheme examining whether national tests should be replaced by more frequent but shorter assessments,
Instead of fixed tests taken by pupils at 11 and 14, tests would be taken when teachers thought children were ready.Instead of fixed tests taken by pupils at 11 and 14, tests would be taken when teachers thought children were ready.
Schools will also be offered a financial reward for raising the achievement of pupils. Schools will also be offered financial rewards for raising the achievement of pupils who have been struggling.
"I want a relentless focus on the progress of each individual," said Education Secretary Alan Johnson."I want a relentless focus on the progress of each individual," said Education Secretary Alan Johnson.
The proposal to introduce a more flexible approach - which would mean tests up to twice a year - will be piloted for two years in 10 local authority areas. Flexible
It is intended to allow schools and parents to monitor children's progress more regularly - rather than depending on the national tests at the end of key stages, when pupils are 11 and 14 years old. The proposal to introduce a more flexible approach - which would mean tests in English and maths up to twice a year - will be piloted for two years in 10 local authority areas.
Mr Johnson, speaking at a press briefing, said it could provide a more "transparent" form of testing, highlighting when children needed to be given extra support to catch up or given harder work to stretch them.
The proposals also include "progression premiums" which will give extra payments to schools which substantially raise their pupils' performance - with financial rewards up to 10% extra in per pupil funding.
PRIMARY SCHOOL TESTS Testing times: Who takes what around the UKPRIMARY SCHOOL TESTS Testing times: Who takes what around the UK
It is intended to allow schools and parents to monitor children's progress more regularly - rather than depending on the national tests at the end of key stages, when pupils are 11 and 14 years old.
Mr Johnson, speaking at a press briefing, said this could provide a more "transparent" form of testing, highlighting when children needed to be given extra support to catch up or given harder work to stretch them.
"I want it to be possible for pupils to take an externally-marked test, whenever the pupil is ready, rather than only at the end of a long key stage," he said.
"Parents will know how well their child is doing in moving through the different levels," said Mr Johnson.
And Sue Hackman, the education department's chief adviser on school standards, promised that all parents would be told when their children were to take these tests.
This will not mean scrapping the current national tests - as the pilot scheme will continue in parallel with the present testing system.
But Mr Johnson ruled out any suggestions that this would mean the end of exam league tables - saying that would be a "disaster".But Mr Johnson ruled out any suggestions that this would mean the end of exam league tables - saying that would be a "disaster".
The proposals were welcomed by John Dunford, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders. Coasting schools
"It is a more intelligent form of accountability for the success of schools to be measured according to the progress of all pupils," he said. The proposals also include "progression premiums" which will give extra payments to schools which substantially raise their pupils' performance - with financial rewards up to 10% extra in per pupil funding.
NUT leader Steve Sinnott approved of testing children "when they're ready", but he warned that "another layer of testing will impact badly on our education service and indeed I think will impact badly on the, on youngsters - some will feel failures".
Shadow education secretary David Willetts offered a more cautious welcome that it would help to balance accountability with the need for pupils not to spend too long preparing for tests.
League tables not relegated
Officials envisage the pilot involving two test opportunities each year, in December and in May or June.
Alan Johnson wants to focus on individual pupilsAlan Johnson wants to focus on individual pupils
Teachers would enter any pupils they felt were ready to move up to the next national curriculum level - but all pupils, regardless of their ability, would still have to take the tests at some point. It is aimed at rewarding schools which have made a difference with struggling pupils - rather than "coasting" schools which are making little extra progress with an intake of high achievers.
In this respect it would be more like the Scottish system, though that does not have the element of school accountability. "One of the current criticisms has been that you might have a low-attaining pupil who has done remarkably well, coming up from two levels behind, but who is still not reaching the threshold - so is not considered a success for the school or teacher.
The current cap on primary school achievement would be lifted, so that potentially even young pupils could hit levels well above what is currently expected of 14-year-olds. "One the other hand, you might have a high-attaining pupil who is coasting and could go further. But the system at present doesn't recognise that in the way it should."
For the pilot, the universal national tests each May would remain. But ultimately, subject to consultation, these could be dropped altogether. The pilot scheme's changes to testing are particularly targeted at those pupils who are failing to reach the expected standard for their age group.
Among 14 year olds, there are about 26% of pupils who have not reached the expected level - and the revised testing and proposals for individual tuition are designed to identify and support these struggling pupils.
Measuring performance
This would also mean that the current cap on primary school achievement would be lifted, so that potentially even young pupils could hit levels well above what is currently expected of 14-year-olds.
HAVE YOUR SAY More testing is necessary but not in the manner being proposed Andy C, Bristol Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAY More testing is necessary but not in the manner being proposed Andy C, Bristol Send us your comments
What is clear is that, unlike their counterparts elsewhere in the UK, ministers in England are in no mood to do away with the annual performance tables, which they believe have driven up standards. The arrangements set out in the pilot project would also be likely to bring new targets for schools. Mr Johnson says he wants a debate about how school performance should be measured, about which he had a "genuinely open mind".
But they are keen to supplement the existing tables with something that reflects how many pupils in each school make the sort of progress they are expected to.
Existing tables, focusing on so-called "threshold" attainment, do not reveal when, for example, a bright pupil is "coasting" - exceeding the national expectation but actually capable of much better.
Conversely, they cannot show the considerable achievement of a less intellectual child who makes great personal strides but does not quite hit the "threshold".
The tables do already include "value added" measures which are meant to show the progress pupils have made.
The newest of these - to be published later this week for secondary schools - will be "contextualised", controversially, to reflect certain aspects of children's personal circumstances.
But high average scores within these can still mask under-attainment and do not fit with the government's new drive to "personalise" learning and ensure every child's potential is fully realised.
The new arrangements would also be likely to bring new targets for schools.
Mr Johnson has already said he wants a debate about the possible alternatives, about which he had a "genuinely open mind".
"Should we look at schools in terms of the overall numbers of pupils making progress at each stage?"Should we look at schools in terms of the overall numbers of pupils making progress at each stage?
"Should we move over time to a system where all pupils are expected to progress by at least two levels, say, in each key stage in reading, writing and maths?""Should we move over time to a system where all pupils are expected to progress by at least two levels, say, in each key stage in reading, writing and maths?"
In response, the Shadow Education Secretary, David Willetts, said that it is "worthwhile piloting more in-year assessment, but school children need an authoritative statement of what they have achieved as they move from primary to secondary school".
NUT leader Steve Sinnott approved of testing children "when they're ready", but he warned that "another layer of testing will impact badly on our education service and indeed I think will impact badly on the, on youngsters - some will feel failures".