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| Primary tests would have stumped Jane Austen, says teacher | Primary tests would have stumped Jane Austen, says teacher |
| (4 months later) | |
| The new grammar tests for primary school pupils would have stumped Jane Austen, according to an experienced headteacher, as members of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) criticised the government’s assessment regime. | The new grammar tests for primary school pupils would have stumped Jane Austen, according to an experienced headteacher, as members of the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) criticised the government’s assessment regime. |
| Amanda Hulme, an NAHT executive member and head of a primary school in Bolton, said the tests for year six pupils were too difficult for the 10- and 11-year-olds in England who would be taking them this year. | Amanda Hulme, an NAHT executive member and head of a primary school in Bolton, said the tests for year six pupils were too difficult for the 10- and 11-year-olds in England who would be taking them this year. |
| “I have a degree in English language and there are a number of questions that I couldn’t answer – I can now answer them but I’ve had to relearn. I’ve got 23 years’ experience as a teacher and it took me two hours to plan a 30-minute lesson,” Hulme said. | “I have a degree in English language and there are a number of questions that I couldn’t answer – I can now answer them but I’ve had to relearn. I’ve got 23 years’ experience as a teacher and it took me two hours to plan a 30-minute lesson,” Hulme said. |
| “We used to teach children about verbs and now it’s all the different types of verbs: modal verbs, transitive verbs, intransitive verbs. I’m sure Jane Austen didn’t need to know that when she was writing her novels. I’ve managed to get by for 23 years without knowing what a transitive verb is.” | “We used to teach children about verbs and now it’s all the different types of verbs: modal verbs, transitive verbs, intransitive verbs. I’m sure Jane Austen didn’t need to know that when she was writing her novels. I’ve managed to get by for 23 years without knowing what a transitive verb is.” |
| The comments were made as the Department for Education (DfE) came under sustained criticism by the usually moderate NAHT, which represents mainly primary school headteachers. | The comments were made as the Department for Education (DfE) came under sustained criticism by the usually moderate NAHT, which represents mainly primary school headteachers. |
| The union’s new president, Kim Johnson, told delegates at the NAHT’s annual conference: “Schools and parents cannot face another year of assessment chaos. Now is the time to call for a better system of assessment – one that works for parents, pupils and teachers, rather than one that just ticks boxes for bureaucrats and politicians.” | The union’s new president, Kim Johnson, told delegates at the NAHT’s annual conference: “Schools and parents cannot face another year of assessment chaos. Now is the time to call for a better system of assessment – one that works for parents, pupils and teachers, rather than one that just ticks boxes for bureaucrats and politicians.” |
| In response, a DfE spokesperson said: “We have updated the key stage two tests to reflect our new, more rigorous curriculum which will help every child fulfil their potential regardless of their circumstances. Tests help teachers identify and provide the support pupils need as well as giving parents a picture of how their child is doing.” | In response, a DfE spokesperson said: “We have updated the key stage two tests to reflect our new, more rigorous curriculum which will help every child fulfil their potential regardless of their circumstances. Tests help teachers identify and provide the support pupils need as well as giving parents a picture of how their child is doing.” |
| But Hulme said the new tests included “concepts that are very difficult for children to understand,” and that pupils were being “subjected to a diet of English and maths” rather than being allowed to undertake wider learning. | But Hulme said the new tests included “concepts that are very difficult for children to understand,” and that pupils were being “subjected to a diet of English and maths” rather than being allowed to undertake wider learning. |
| Russell Hobby, the NAHT’s general secretary, said primary schools they were being used as “guinea pigs” as the DfE experimented with new forms of assessment. | Russell Hobby, the NAHT’s general secretary, said primary schools they were being used as “guinea pigs” as the DfE experimented with new forms of assessment. |
| “Nobody is entirely sure what these tests will be used for, there’s no real clarity because they are all being introduced so quickly. What effect will it have on children’s careers?” Hobby said. | “Nobody is entirely sure what these tests will be used for, there’s no real clarity because they are all being introduced so quickly. What effect will it have on children’s careers?” Hobby said. |
| “In the past we have been able to say to parents, don’t worry too much about these [tests]. But it’s turning into a situation where they do have to worry about it, and I’m not sure that’s healthy.” | “In the past we have been able to say to parents, don’t worry too much about these [tests]. But it’s turning into a situation where they do have to worry about it, and I’m not sure that’s healthy.” |
| Hulme said parents and teachers were panicked by the new assessments. “There is no need to practise for the test, there’s no need for parents to go out and buy test papers,” she said. | Hulme said parents and teachers were panicked by the new assessments. “There is no need to practise for the test, there’s no need for parents to go out and buy test papers,” she said. |
| The criticisms by headteachers have come in the run-up to a school boycott planned for next Tuesday, with small groups of parents pledging to keep their children out of school in protest at the new primary assessment regime. | The criticisms by headteachers have come in the run-up to a school boycott planned for next Tuesday, with small groups of parents pledging to keep their children out of school in protest at the new primary assessment regime. |
| The NAHT president has also criticised the policies in the government white paper, which would push council-maintained schools to become academies and join multi-academy trusts. | The NAHT president has also criticised the policies in the government white paper, which would push council-maintained schools to become academies and join multi-academy trusts. |
| In a letter to be published in Saturday’s Daily Telegraph, Johnson urged the government to change tack, arguing: “The cost of this current initiative to turn every school into an academy is high and the benefits uncertain. Smaller schools will surely suffer.” | In a letter to be published in Saturday’s Daily Telegraph, Johnson urged the government to change tack, arguing: “The cost of this current initiative to turn every school into an academy is high and the benefits uncertain. Smaller schools will surely suffer.” |
| The opposition to the all-academy plan was joined by Essex county council, which sent a letter to the education secretary, Nicky Morgan, calling for an “urgent rethink” over compulsory academy status for all state schools. | The opposition to the all-academy plan was joined by Essex county council, which sent a letter to the education secretary, Nicky Morgan, calling for an “urgent rethink” over compulsory academy status for all state schools. |
| Ray Gooding, a Conservative councillor who is the county’s cabinet member for education, wrote: “Academies can be a good option in driving up standards in schools, but they are not a magic solution and the assumption that academies will automatically perform better is certainly questionable.” | Ray Gooding, a Conservative councillor who is the county’s cabinet member for education, wrote: “Academies can be a good option in driving up standards in schools, but they are not a magic solution and the assumption that academies will automatically perform better is certainly questionable.” |
| The DfE said: “Our reforms are raising standards and, thanks to the hard work of teachers, there are a record number of children in good or outstanding schools – 1.4 million more since 2010. | The DfE said: “Our reforms are raising standards and, thanks to the hard work of teachers, there are a record number of children in good or outstanding schools – 1.4 million more since 2010. |
| “We want that trend to continue which is why the proposals in our white paper will put power back in the hands of the teachers and school leaders who know their pupils best, alongside new measures to more swiftly tackle failing and coasting schools.” | “We want that trend to continue which is why the proposals in our white paper will put power back in the hands of the teachers and school leaders who know their pupils best, alongside new measures to more swiftly tackle failing and coasting schools.” |