Commenting on the launch of a new consultation on primary
assessment, Kevin Courtney, General Secretary of the
National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union,
said:
“Our current primary assessment system is broken. Almost 50% of
11 year olds were labelled failures last year as a result of
badly designed and poorly implemented tests. Our members want a
system that supports children to achieve their potential, gives
useful information to parents and teachers and does not narrow
the school curriculum.
“Today’s consultation on primary assessment is a recognition that
our children deserve something better.
“Ms Greening has been listening – but only partially. The
consultation floats the idea that statutory assessment at KS1
will be set aside, but not until the early 2020s. This would be a
welcome concession to the thousands of teachers who have
protested against the effects of a test-driven curriculum on six
and seven year olds.
“But the relief that is offered at one stage of education is
accompanied by changes for the worse for younger age groups. In a
triumph of hope over experience, the DfE wants to reintroduce
baseline testing to the early years, despite its failure in
2015/16. The DfE wants to believe that the test results of a 5
year old can reasonably predict their performance at 11, so that
the school system can be held to account if children do not make
the ‘expected’ progress. In fact there is a wealth of evidence
that points the other way. In pursuit of this unattainable goal,
the DfE seems willing to inflict damage on the education of four
and five year olds: baseline testing will drive curriculum change
towards a narrower early years curriculum, with a premature and
inappropriate emphasis on formal learning.
“Not enough will change for 11 year olds and their parents.
Teachers will welcome the suggested shift from ‘secure fit’ to
‘best fit’ in the assessment of writing. But teachers will note
how little the consultation offers for Key Stage 2: the same
curriculum, a very similar assessment structure, the same
accountability pressures, steering them towards teaching for the
test. Primary assessment ‘should not be about putting pressure on
children’ says the consultation – but there is no change
envisaged to significantly lessen these pressures at KS2.
“The NUT will engage with the consultation process – and continue
to work for deeper change. Parents, heads, teachers and children
need a system of assessment and accountability which works for
everyone.”
