Commenting on the publication of Key Stage 2 SATs
results today (Tuesday 4 July 2017), Julie McCulloch,
Primary Specialist at the Association of School and College
Leaders, said:
“Congratulations to schools, teachers and children, who have
worked extremely hard to achieve the results announced today. The
children who sat this year’s tests have only been following the
revised National Curriculum for three years, and it is to their
and their schools’ great credit that they have done so well.
“However, ASCL has grave concerns about the impact of the
SATs on the curriculum, and on children’s broader experience at
primary school. It cannot be right that the performance of
primary schools is judged on a set of tests taken over just four
days in May at the end of the seven years children spend at
primary school.
“We currently have a system in which the SATs hang over
schools like the sword of Damocles.
“The government made some sensible proposals in its recent
consultation on the future of primary assessment, but has failed
to address this issue. That is a glaring omission.
“ASCL has initiated an independent review of primary
accountability, bringing together experts to review the impact of
the current approach and to make recommendations for
improvements.
“We aim to publish our report and recommendations in the
autumn term and we will be putting them forward to the Secretary
of State.”
