‘End the testing overload’
8:36am Wednesday 14th May 2008
THE call for tests taken by more than a million pupils every year to be abolished has been backed by York teachers.
In an attack on the system of national curriculum testing in schools, a committee of MPs has said Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) are damaging children and create an atmosphere where schools become focused on hitting targets.
MPs called on the Government to scrap the current system of tests for school pupils and said urgent reform was needed as the use of tests to make conclusions about schools as well as an individual pupil's progress was "inappropriate".
The cross-party group of politicians said the use of league tables, which are used to rank schools from their pupils' test results, meant some institutions concentrated on coaching for tests rather than giving children a more rounded education.
Under the current system, children face national tests at the ages of seven, 11, and 14.
Secondary school pupils across the area have recently completed SATS tests in English, mathematics and science English. Corresponding tests are to be sat by 11-year-olds in primary schools this week.
John Tomsett, head teacher at Huntington secondary school, said he agreed less focus should be put on test results and more on personalised learning.
He said: "Generally, I am keen to educate students rather than get them to jump through hoops. I would prefer to ensure students get an education rather than to continually do tests.
"I'm not sure the huge emphasis that is currently placed on examination, after examination after examination is the best situation.
"We need to make sure the pupils are ready for the real world, which doesn't necessarily depend on constant exam results."
Jonathon Green, head teacher at Archbishop of York CE junior school, said he believed "other projects were far more valuable" to children than tests.
He said: "We are doing a project at the moment called Climate Change Champions, and I believe the learning the children have got from that project overwrites tests. I think other teachers would hold up their hands and agree."
The system of national tests for 11 and 14-year-olds, which was introduced by the Tories and expanded under Labour, means data is employed in national league tables and Ofsted reports, with schools facing possible closure for failing to improve results.
The MPs committee has recommended sample testing, in which a small percentage of children in each school or local authority would sit the same test every year to measure standards.
Sampling could co-exist with a system of pupil testing and more use of internal assessment by teachers to gauge individual progress, it said.
Burnholme Community College head teacher Simon Gumn said he would welcome the MPs proposals.
"I think testing is important to show parents, teachers and pupils themselves how well they are progressing.
"However, it is my view that SATS do put a lot of pressure on students. I think the system should be looked into and I would welcome any improved changes."
Coun Carol Runciman, executive member for children's services, said she thinks too much emphasis has been placed on a single set of tests and this has been to the detriment of some aspects of the curriculum and some students.
"Our schoolchildren are the most tested in Europe and I don't think that over-testing results in the best for the child," she said.
"SATS put enormous pressure both on children and the parents and it is not necessary. I think these sorts of testing links with the fact that our schoolchildren are the most unhappy in Europe, which is no wonder if they are continuously striving to achieve in examinations.
"Good teachers should know their pupils well and therefore could give feedback on children's progress rather than over-testing.
"Also, over-testing can lead to teachers teaching to the test which is not the best for a child's education.
"I think there is room for more creativity in the curriculum and more innovative approaches to learning."