Parents say children are anxious about SATS: New research released by "More than a score"

• 62% say primary school children go through too much testing

• 63% say there is too much test pressure

• 48% of children have suffered anxiety about taking primary school tests

(Source: YouGov)

Children are under too much pressure from primary school tests, say 63% of parents of 7 to 14 year olds polled, with nearly half of them whose child has taken a primary SAT test (48%) saying their children were anxious about taking the exams.

As nearly one million children, some as young as six years old, prepare to sit the SATs test this week, new research by YouGov for More Than A Score, looked at the impact of SATs on the well-being of children and their education.

62% of parents of children aged 7 to 14 said primary school children go through too much testing: 40% are concerned enough to support changes to the SATs tests, with only 13% happy with the status quo.

The findings come as More Than A Score, acoalition of parents, teachers, heads and education experts working for changes to the SATs regime, engages thousands of parents and teachers worried about the impact of SATs on children’s well-being and the quality of education.

More Than A Score spokesperson, Madeleine Holt says:

"The polling confirms what parents have been telling us for years: SATs are damaging and pointless. Now we see even six and seven-year-olds school worrying about tests. Surely learning is about more than getting a perfect score?  Children need a broad and rich curriculum that encourages them to be excited about learning, not terrified of failing at such a young age."

“With the status of a school and teachers’ pay so closely linked to SATs results, it’s no wonder so many are teaching to the test. The SATs regime is inhibiting children’s learning as SATs revision begins to dominate the timetable. Our primary school children in England are already some of the most tested in the world. This results in stress and anxiety in children, narrows the curriculum and distracts teachers from doing their job: teaching.

“That's why we are calling for the government to scrap SATs, and commission an independent and expert review to produce recommendations for primary school assessments that are fit for purpose.”       

Luci, a parent of a child taking SATs this week, says:

“My daughter has been marking herself against her peers. Noting when practice papers have been handed out from bad to good, comparing scores with others and coming home feeling bad. Reading and writing were always her strongest points and maths more tricky, but now when she isn't getting a good score (in her eyes) she begins to feel worthless.”

The tests, for primary pupils in Year 2 and 6, are making some primary schools hot-houses for SATs revision. Even those schools that deal well with the tests are failing to insulate the children from the resulting pressure.

Other schools, desperate to retain the status and financial benefits of good SATs results, are priming children and parents with practice tests and SATs homework.

More Than A Score spokesperson, Madeleine Holt, says:

"The polling confirms what parents have been telling us for years. Now we see even six and seven-year-olds school worrying about tests. Surely learning is about more than getting a perfect score on a test?  Children need a broad and rich curriculum that encourages them to be excited about learning, not terrified of failing at such a young age.

“With the status of a school and teachers’ pay so linked to SATs results, it’s no wonder so many are teaching to the test. The SATs regime is inhibiting children’s learning as SATs revision begins to dominate the timetable. Our primary school children in England are already some of the most tested in the world. This results in stress and anxiety in children, narrows the curriculum and distracts teachers from doing their job: teaching."        

Becky, a teacher and parent of a child in Year 6, spoke of her concerns:

“My daughter’s school manage SATs quite well in terms of trying not to ‘hype’ it up. This does not unfortunately mean that many of the children are not feeling incredibly anxious about it especially with the amount of homework they are being given to ‘prepare themselves for SATs’.

SATs make certain children feel useless - they feel failures at a very young age.”

Not only do the exams engender anxiety, they are also knocking other subjects off the curriculum, as more time is spent preparing for SATs.

Another parent from the Midlands says:

“The only reason anxiety isn’t an issue for my daughter is because we aren’t bothered by the results. I am tired of extra writing for evidence being disguised as topic work! And booster groups to fill a need of a child that should be fulfilled in class teaching time as part of a balanced curriculum.  

“We only report on English and maths. We are failing pupils who excel in other subjects and stripping the enjoyment out of maths and English. Schools should be ready for pupils, not pupils ready for tests.”

Sam, a father of a Year 6 child due to sit SATs this week, says:

“We as parents have been subjected to daily conversations with our children about what scores they got in practice papers and how to order SATs buster books to boost my child's scores up.

“There are children that aren't being entered into SAT testing because schools have taken the decision that the child isn't 'able' to complete the tests.

“There are children crying when they get their results back and feeling like failures, homework and lessons are all based around SATs: paper after paper are sent home weekly!  These children are 6-7, 10-11 - they really don't need this pressure in their lives. I feel deeply concerned that the education system is becoming a testing society and not letting our kids be kids!”

Ends

About More Than A Score

More Than A Score is a coalition of parents, teachers, heads and education experts working together to demand urgent change in the government’s over-testing regime. We’re calling for the government to end primary school SATs, and commission an independent and expert review to produce recommendations for primary school assessments that are fit for purpose.

Visit our website, morethanascore.org.uk, to learn more and add your name to this campaign.

Notes for editors:

YouGov poll. All figures unless otherwise stated are from YouGov PLC. Total sample size was 4149 adults of which 596 were parents of children aged seven to fourteen. Fieldwork was undertaken between 25th-27th April 2018. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).