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Call to scrap tests for under-16s Call to scrap tests for under-16s
(about 1 hour later)
The national exams sat by under-16s in England's schools should be scrapped, a teaching standards watchdog has urged.The national exams sat by under-16s in England's schools should be scrapped, a teaching standards watchdog has urged.
The General Teaching Council (GTC) believes exams are failing to raise standards and are demoralising children, the Observer reports.The General Teaching Council (GTC) believes exams are failing to raise standards and are demoralising children, the Observer reports.
Instead of tests at seven, 11 and 14, the GTC said standards could be checked by monitoring a sample of pupils.Instead of tests at seven, 11 and 14, the GTC said standards could be checked by monitoring a sample of pupils.
But the Department for Education said parents valued the information gleaned from tests and they would remain.But the Department for Education said parents valued the information gleaned from tests and they would remain.
League tablesLeague tables
Currently, every child in England takes national curriculum tests, often known as standard assessment tests (Sats), at the ages of seven, 11 and 14. In all, children face about 70 tests or exams during their school lives.Currently, every child in England takes national curriculum tests, often known as standard assessment tests (Sats), at the ages of seven, 11 and 14. In all, children face about 70 tests or exams during their school lives.
Keith Bartley, chief executive of the GTC, told the Observer: "The pressure is on and it is growing.Keith Bartley, chief executive of the GTC, told the Observer: "The pressure is on and it is growing.
"We are saying to the government, 'We do not think your policies are best serving the young people in this country or their achievement'."We are saying to the government, 'We do not think your policies are best serving the young people in this country or their achievement'.
"The range of knowledge and skills that tests assess is very narrow, and to prepare young people for the world they need a set of skills that are far broader.""The range of knowledge and skills that tests assess is very narrow, and to prepare young people for the world they need a set of skills that are far broader."
Earlier this year the head of the exams authority also suggested samples of pupils, rather than all pupils, could be tested to check standards in England.Earlier this year the head of the exams authority also suggested samples of pupils, rather than all pupils, could be tested to check standards in England.
However, Ken Boston, chief executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, said Sats should stay for the time being, but could eventually be replaced by progress-testing for individual children.However, Ken Boston, chief executive of the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority, said Sats should stay for the time being, but could eventually be replaced by progress-testing for individual children.
We are saying to the government we do not think your policies are best serving the young people in this country Keith Bartley,General Teaching CouncilWe are saying to the government we do not think your policies are best serving the young people in this country Keith Bartley,General Teaching Council
The General Teaching Council (GTC), which is an independent regulatory body working to promote better standards of teaching, says testing a sample of children, rather than every child, would help ease pressure on them.The General Teaching Council (GTC), which is an independent regulatory body working to promote better standards of teaching, says testing a sample of children, rather than every child, would help ease pressure on them.
Teachers could then frame back-up assessments tailored to the needs of their pupils, rather than continuously coaching pupils to pass tests.Teachers could then frame back-up assessments tailored to the needs of their pupils, rather than continuously coaching pupils to pass tests.
The council says Sats are as much about the position obtained by schools in performance tables on the back of the results as they are about a child's progress.The council says Sats are as much about the position obtained by schools in performance tables on the back of the results as they are about a child's progress.
It is hoping that an inquiry by the Commons education select committee will persuade the government to drop its support for national testing.It is hoping that an inquiry by the Commons education select committee will persuade the government to drop its support for national testing.
Such a move would find favour with many teachers, who have long argued that Sats and performance tables encourage teaching simply on how to pass tests.Such a move would find favour with many teachers, who have long argued that Sats and performance tables encourage teaching simply on how to pass tests.
'Enormous pressure''Enormous pressure'
John Bangs, head of education at the National Union of Teachers, said: "There are all sorts of malign effects from the current testing regime.John Bangs, head of education at the National Union of Teachers, said: "There are all sorts of malign effects from the current testing regime.
"One is that there is enormous pressure on youngsters and there's a lot of training to take the tests, and both teachers and parents feel that particularly coming up to that crucial time - year 6, when you are eleven and just leaving primary school."One is that there is enormous pressure on youngsters and there's a lot of training to take the tests, and both teachers and parents feel that particularly coming up to that crucial time - year 6, when you are eleven and just leaving primary school.
"And secondly, schools themselves feel under enormous pressure because they are judged by the test results in a very crude way in the school performance tables that come out every year.""And secondly, schools themselves feel under enormous pressure because they are judged by the test results in a very crude way in the school performance tables that come out every year."
The GTC calls for a "fundamental and urgent review of the testing regime" in a study submitted to the education select committee and seen by the Observer newspaper.The GTC calls for a "fundamental and urgent review of the testing regime" in a study submitted to the education select committee and seen by the Observer newspaper.
Parents need and greatly value the information they get from performance tables Department of Education spokespersonParents need and greatly value the information they get from performance tables Department of Education spokesperson
GTC chief executive Keith Bartley told the paper: "We are saying to the government we do not think your policies are best serving the young people in this country or their achievement.
"The range of knowledge and skills they assess is very narrow and to prepare young people for the world, they need a set of skills that are far broader."
The Department for Education said testing and performance tables were accountability measures "essential to extending and maintaining" improvements in standards.The Department for Education said testing and performance tables were accountability measures "essential to extending and maintaining" improvements in standards.
A spokeswoman told the Observer: "Parents need and greatly value the information they get from performance tables."A spokeswoman told the Observer: "Parents need and greatly value the information they get from performance tables."
However, the government did announce in January that a pilot scheme would examine whether more frequent assessments could replace fixed testing.However, the government did announce in January that a pilot scheme would examine whether more frequent assessments could replace fixed testing.
Tests would be taken when teachers thought children were ready.
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Tests would be taken when teachers thought children were ready.
Katie Ivens from the Campaign for Real Education told News 24 she disagreed:
"Frankly I think the teachers are feeling the pressure and they project that pressure onto the children, which is a bad thing to do if they're successful. On the whole children will take tests in their stride. They will take daily tests, weekly tests, monthly tests, termly tests. Honestly, it doesn't bother children very much provided other people don't make a great deal of fuss about it, they'll get on with it. And also children like to know how they do".
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