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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Teachers to vote on Sats boycott | Teachers to vote on Sats boycott |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Teachers are expected to back a boycott of Sats tests for children aged seven and 11 in England - unless ministers agree to scrap the exams. | Teachers are expected to back a boycott of Sats tests for children aged seven and 11 in England - unless ministers agree to scrap the exams. |
| National Union of Teachers members, meeting in Cardiff for their annual conference, are preparing to vote on planned joint action with headteachers. | National Union of Teachers members, meeting in Cardiff for their annual conference, are preparing to vote on planned joint action with headteachers. |
| Union leaders say the tests are damaging to pupils and demean staff. | Union leaders say the tests are damaging to pupils and demean staff. |
| The government says it will review Sats but will not scrap them, viewing the tests as vital for parents and schools. | The government says it will review Sats but will not scrap them, viewing the tests as vital for parents and schools. |
| It has described the proposal to boycott Sats as "irresponsible". | It has described the proposal to boycott Sats as "irresponsible". |
| Last year's tests were dogged by marking problems, which caused delays in results being sent out and gave fresh impetus to those who opposed to them. | Last year's tests were dogged by marking problems, which caused delays in results being sent out and gave fresh impetus to those who opposed to them. |
| Schools Secretary Ed Balls later scrapped Sats for 14-year-olds in England, but kept the tests for younger pupils. | Schools Secretary Ed Balls later scrapped Sats for 14-year-olds in England, but kept the tests for younger pupils. |
| 'Biggest battle' | 'Biggest battle' |
| The government says they allow parents and schools to track pupils' progress. | The government says they allow parents and schools to track pupils' progress. |
| Hundreds of thousands of 11-year-olds are preparing to sit Sats exams in maths, English and science next month. | Hundreds of thousands of 11-year-olds are preparing to sit Sats exams in maths, English and science next month. |
| The National Union of Teachers' has proposed to boycott the tests in 2010 jointly with the National Association of Head Teachers. | The National Union of Teachers' has proposed to boycott the tests in 2010 jointly with the National Association of Head Teachers. |
| Both unions say the tests damage children's education because teachers are forced to "teach to the test", narrowing the curriculum. | Both unions say the tests damage children's education because teachers are forced to "teach to the test", narrowing the curriculum. |
| However, other unions have not joined the call. | However, other unions have not joined the call. |
| BBC education correspondent James Westhead said the promise of a review was unlikely to satisfy teachers "set to embark on one of their biggest battles yet with the government". | BBC education correspondent James Westhead said the promise of a review was unlikely to satisfy teachers "set to embark on one of their biggest battles yet with the government". |
| Are you affected by the issues in this story? Do you think SATs should be scrapped for 7 and 11 year olds? Send us your comments. | Are you affected by the issues in this story? Do you think SATs should be scrapped for 7 and 11 year olds? Send us your comments. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |