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Sats have troubled England’s children for too long: they must go Sats have troubled England’s children for too long: they must go
(about 5 hours later)
We, as teachers, educators, parents and grandparents, are writing out of huge concern for the deteriorating experience of children in England’s primary schools – and the part played by assessment models in this distressing process.We, as teachers, educators, parents and grandparents, are writing out of huge concern for the deteriorating experience of children in England’s primary schools – and the part played by assessment models in this distressing process.
A year ago over 80 of us signed a letter to the Guardian saying why we opposed the baseline assessment for four-year-olds. We welcome the decision to withdraw that, in the light of experience, and note that the proposed key stage 1 grammar has recently been cancelled due to errors in administration.A year ago over 80 of us signed a letter to the Guardian saying why we opposed the baseline assessment for four-year-olds. We welcome the decision to withdraw that, in the light of experience, and note that the proposed key stage 1 grammar has recently been cancelled due to errors in administration.
The problems of assessment are not limited to mismanagement, spectacular though these effects have been. Primary assessment in its present form contributes to a great range of problems – a narrow curriculum, an approach to maths and English that reduces these to right or wrong answers, intense pressures on teachers, stress on pupils, neglect of children with special needs.The problems of assessment are not limited to mismanagement, spectacular though these effects have been. Primary assessment in its present form contributes to a great range of problems – a narrow curriculum, an approach to maths and English that reduces these to right or wrong answers, intense pressures on teachers, stress on pupils, neglect of children with special needs.
Parent groups have sprung up around the country and many are calling for a “pupil strike” on 3 May. We welcome the opportunity to unite parents, teachers and support staff, educational academics and all concerned about the future of education in a movement to stop the current testing system.Parent groups have sprung up around the country and many are calling for a “pupil strike” on 3 May. We welcome the opportunity to unite parents, teachers and support staff, educational academics and all concerned about the future of education in a movement to stop the current testing system.
As Sats week, the dismal “highlight” of the primary assessment year, approaches, we call for 2016 to be the final year of primary assessment in its current form. The Sats have troubled our country’s children for too long: it is time for them to go. We ask for the present system of primary assessment to be reviewed and for the welfare and learning of children to be placed at the heart of whatever arrangements replace it.Philip Pullman Author Sara Tomlinson Teacher and NUT member Wendy Scott President, Tactyc Beatrice Merrick Chief executive, Early Education Wendy Ellyat Chief executive, Save Childhood Movement Michael Rosen Author and broadcasterNeil Leitch Chief executive, Pre-Schools Learning AllianceChristine Blower General secretary, NUTJonny Crawshaw Founder member, Rescue Our SchoolsLiz Bayram Chief executive, PaceyCaroline Lucas MP, Green partyAlan Gibbons AuthorAlasdair Smith Secretary, Anti Academies AllianceAlex Kenny Teacher and executive member NUTAlison Emmett ParentAndrea SprengerBrian Oosthuysen Labour county councillorBridget Chapman TeacherCarole Oosthuysen Retired teacherCaroline Russell Primary school teacherCarolyn Poulter Trustee and Vice-Chairman, Early Education Councillor Kate Bielby, Mayor of FromeCouncillor Pippa Goldfinger Frome town councilDavid Tazzyman ParentDawn Taylor Teacher and NEC NUTDr Holly Smith ParentDr Margy Whalley Director, Pen Green ResearchDr Pam Jarvis Senior Lecturer, Leeds TrinityDr Richard House Chartered psychologist, author of Too Much, Too SoonDr Simon Boxley University of WinchesterDr Terry WrigleyDr David Whitebread University of Cambridge Faculty of EducationDr Verity Campbell-Barr Lecturer in early childhood studies, Plymouth UniversityElizabeth Carruthers Executive head, Redcliffe Nursery School and National Teaching SchoolEmeritus Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop Vice-president, Early EducationEmma Mort TeacherEve R Stone Light Parents Defending EducationFionna Martin Junior doctor and parentFran Byrne Primary teacherGrethe Hooper Hansen Former head of SEALHannah Solley TeacherHelen Moylett Early years consultant, trainer and writerHilary Bills Labour councillor and retired teacherJackie Schneider TeacherJan Neilsen TeacherJane Joyce Senior early years lecturer, Winchester UniversityJean Saliah Parent and teacherJennie Jones TeacherJess Edwards Teacher and coordinator, Primary CharterJohn Coe NAPEKayleigh Pickard TeacherKevin Courtney Deputy general secretary, NUTKierna Corr Early Education board member for Northern IrelandKiri Tunks Junior vice-president, NUTLesley StaggLouise LeggLouise Regan Senior vice-president, NUTLucy Cox Parents Defending EducationMarion Dowling Early EducationMatthew Russell Concerned parentMelanie Charnock ParentMichael Holland Primary teacherMichelle Hendry ParentNancy Stewart Vice-chair, TactycPaula Champion Nursery teacherPeter H Reeve Retired primary school teacherProfessor Chris Pascal Director, Centre for Research in Early ChildhoodProfessor Jayne Osgood Middlesex UniversityProfessor Tony BertramRafael Frias-Robles Chair of governorsSally Kincaid TeacherSarah Vallois ParentSasha Elliott TeacherShirley Brooks Senior lecturer, University of WinchesterSian Bloor TeacherSimon Murch Teacher and executive member, NUTSimon O’Hara TeacherTerry Wrigley Reclaiming SchoolsTina Humphries ParentTom Meumann ParentWarren Chambers TeacherFrancesca Haimes ParentAmy Johnson TeacherCharlotte Crow Parent As Sats week, the dismal “highlight” of the primary assessment year, approaches, we call for 2016 to be the final year of primary assessment in its current form. The Sats have troubled our country’s children for too long: it is time for them to go. We ask for the present system of primary assessment to be reviewed and for the welfare and learning of children to be placed at the heart of whatever arrangements replace it.Philip Pullman Author Sara Tomlinson Teacher and NUT member Wendy Scott President, Tactyc Beatrice Merrick Chief executive, Early Education Wendy Ellyat Chief executive, Save Childhood Movement Michael Rosen Author and broadcasterNeil Leitch Chief executive, Pre-Schools Learning AllianceChristine Blower General secretary, NUTJonny Crawshaw Founder member, Rescue Our SchoolsLiz Bayram Chief executive, PaceyCaroline Lucas MP, Green partyAlan Gibbons AuthorAlasdair Smith Secretary, Anti Academies AllianceAlex Kenny Teacher and executive member NUTAlison Emmett ParentAndrea SprengerBrian Oosthuysen Labour county councillorBridget Chapman TeacherCarole Oosthuysen Retired teacherCaroline Russell Primary school teacherCarolyn Poulter Trustee and Vice-Chairman, Early Education Councillor Kate Bielby, Mayor of FromeCouncillor Pippa Goldfinger Frome town councilDavid Tazzyman ParentDawn Taylor Teacher and NEC NUTDr Holly Smith ParentDr Margy Whalley Director, Pen Green ResearchDr Pam Jarvis Senior Lecturer, Leeds TrinityDr Richard House Chartered psychologist, author of Too Much, Too SoonDr Simon Boxley University of WinchesterDr Terry WrigleyDr David Whitebread University of Cambridge Faculty of EducationDr Verity Campbell-Barr Lecturer in early childhood studies, Plymouth UniversityElizabeth Carruthers Executive head, Redcliffe Nursery School and National Teaching SchoolEmeritus Professor Aline-Wendy Dunlop Vice-president, Early EducationEmma Mort TeacherEve R Stone Light Parents Defending EducationFionna Martin Junior doctor and parentFran Byrne Primary teacherGrethe Hooper Hansen Former head of SEALHannah Solley TeacherHelen Moylett Early years consultant, trainer and writerHilary Bills Labour councillor and retired teacherJackie Schneider TeacherJan Neilsen TeacherJane Joyce Senior early years lecturer, Winchester UniversityJean Saliah Parent and teacherJennie Jones TeacherJess Edwards Teacher and coordinator, Primary CharterJohn Coe NAPEKayleigh Pickard TeacherKevin Courtney Deputy general secretary, NUTKierna Corr Early Education board member for Northern IrelandKiri Tunks Junior vice-president, NUTLesley StaggLouise LeggLouise Regan Senior vice-president, NUTLucy Cox Parents Defending EducationMarion Dowling Early EducationMatthew Russell Concerned parentMelanie Charnock ParentMichael Holland Primary teacherMichelle Hendry ParentNancy Stewart Vice-chair, TactycPaula Champion Nursery teacherPeter H Reeve Retired primary school teacherProfessor Chris Pascal Director, Centre for Research in Early ChildhoodProfessor Jayne Osgood Middlesex UniversityProfessor Tony BertramRafael Frias-Robles Chair of governorsSally Kincaid TeacherSarah Vallois ParentSasha Elliott TeacherShirley Brooks Senior lecturer, University of WinchesterSian Bloor TeacherSimon Murch Teacher and executive member, NUTSimon O’Hara TeacherTerry Wrigley Reclaiming SchoolsTina Humphries ParentTom Meumann ParentWarren Chambers TeacherFrancesca Haimes ParentAmy Johnson TeacherCharlotte Crow Parent
• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com• Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com