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Parents keep children off school in test protest Parents keep children off school in test protest
(35 minutes later)
Parents are keeping their children off school for the day in a protest about primary tests in England.Parents are keeping their children off school for the day in a protest about primary tests in England.
More than 40,000 parents have signed a petition calling for a boycott of primary school tests, which are due to be taken later this month.More than 40,000 parents have signed a petition calling for a boycott of primary school tests, which are due to be taken later this month.
Parents supporting the Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign have complained of a damaging culture of over-testing.Parents supporting the Let Our Kids Be Kids campaign have complained of a damaging culture of over-testing.
Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says taking pupils out of school "even for a day is harmful to their education".Education Secretary Nicky Morgan says taking pupils out of school "even for a day is harmful to their education".
It remains uncertain how many primary school children are being kept off school, but a social media campaign has been urging parents to take children on educational activities for the day.It remains uncertain how many primary school children are being kept off school, but a social media campaign has been urging parents to take children on educational activities for the day.
The campaign organisers say children are "over-tested, over-worked and in a school system that places more importance on test results and league tables than children's happiness and joy of learning".The campaign organisers say children are "over-tested, over-worked and in a school system that places more importance on test results and league tables than children's happiness and joy of learning".
They have raised concerns about the impact of primary tests, so-called Sats tests, taken by seven-year-olds and 11-year-olds, which are being made more difficult with changes to the curriculum.They have raised concerns about the impact of primary tests, so-called Sats tests, taken by seven-year-olds and 11-year-olds, which are being made more difficult with changes to the curriculum.
They have challenged what they claim is a "dull, dry curriculum" based around tests.They have challenged what they claim is a "dull, dry curriculum" based around tests.
A day out of school
Instead of school, Scarlett, seven, from Doncaster, is going to the woods for a day of outdoor learning with her mother, Nicola, and other families.
"No parent will have taken the decision lightly," said Nicola.
"I object to both the narrowing of the curriculum and the testing of children. It's about ranking schools, not about genuine learning. No research suggests seven-year-olds benefit in any way from doing Sats.
"Of course we want our children to achieve, but we want their education to be a much broader church. What we should be doing is fostering a love of language.
"Scarlett's not stressed. She is a bright and able child and will do well. But whereas a year ago she would come home and write stories and draw pictures, there's less and less of that.
"Last week she came home and said they'd been practising tests. She has told me it makes her unhappy when she doesn't do well in them.
"Teachers, head teachers and parents are genuinely passionate about children and their education and they are not being listened to.
"I'm all for children being challenged, but I want them to be interested in the world."
In an open letter to the education secretary, campaigners have warned of schools becoming "exam factories" and that testing causes stress and can make young children feel like "failures".In an open letter to the education secretary, campaigners have warned of schools becoming "exam factories" and that testing causes stress and can make young children feel like "failures".
Fiona Robertson, a parent and primary teacher who is keeping her children out of school on Tuesday, says that such tests can "turn children off" school.
She says that a narrow emphasis on testing and completing targets was taking away children's creativity.
"They're not producing really imaginative pieces. They're too scared to," she said.
'It's too hard'
Dawn Slater is keeping her six-year-old twins George and Josie away from lessons at Cheam Fields Primary School, Surrey on Tuesday. She said they had been stressed since returning to school this term.
Her son had been having tantrums and her daughter suffered nightmares.
"When I do the literacy test, it's hard," said Josie. "When we have the story, when we're we're stuck on a word, we can't read it. So the story won't make sense."
Instead, the family are going to Nonsuch Park to "find birds, trees and insects", Josie added.
'Basket case'
But Education Minister Nick Gibb said tests improved standards.But Education Minister Nick Gibb said tests improved standards.
"Schools should not be putting pressure on young people when taking these assessments. I've been to many schools where the children don't even know they're taking the tests, they don't have an effect on the children themselves because they have no consequences for the children," said Mr Gibb."Schools should not be putting pressure on young people when taking these assessments. I've been to many schools where the children don't even know they're taking the tests, they don't have an effect on the children themselves because they have no consequences for the children," said Mr Gibb.
Claims that the tests were not worthwhile were rejected by Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education.Claims that the tests were not worthwhile were rejected by Chris McGovern, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education.
He said that any short-term stress was worth it if in the longer term it meant that children finished school with better results.He said that any short-term stress was worth it if in the longer term it meant that children finished school with better results.
Mr McGovern said that tests in England's schools needed to be tougher to catch up with international competitors.Mr McGovern said that tests in England's schools needed to be tougher to catch up with international competitors.
"We're three years behind the Chinese at the age of 15. We are a bit of a basket case internationally."We're three years behind the Chinese at the age of 15. We are a bit of a basket case internationally.
"We've got to do something, we've got to act early, and a health check at seven is a good idea.""We've got to do something, we've got to act early, and a health check at seven is a good idea."
Ministers have already had problems with the administration of primary school tests this year.Ministers have already had problems with the administration of primary school tests this year.
The baseline tests, which were intended to be a benchmark for measuring progress, were found to have unreliable results and have been postponed.The baseline tests, which were intended to be a benchmark for measuring progress, were found to have unreliable results and have been postponed.
Tests for seven-year-olds in spelling, punctuation and grammar also had to be called off when it was found that test questions had mistakenly been published on a Department for Education website.Tests for seven-year-olds in spelling, punctuation and grammar also had to be called off when it was found that test questions had mistakenly been published on a Department for Education website.
Labour's shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said she did not "condone children being taken out of school".Labour's shadow education secretary Lucy Powell said she did not "condone children being taken out of school".
But she accused the government of "creating chaos and confusion in primary assessment".But she accused the government of "creating chaos and confusion in primary assessment".
Russell Hobby, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "I think the gap between the profession and the government has never been wider than it is at the moment."Russell Hobby, leader of the National Association of Head Teachers, said: "I think the gap between the profession and the government has never been wider than it is at the moment."
He warned of "an enormous number of mistakes, delays and confusions around testing".He warned of "an enormous number of mistakes, delays and confusions around testing".
But Mrs Morgan has argued that raising standards will improve creativity and not restrict it and keeping children home, "even for a day, is harmful to their education".But Mrs Morgan has argued that raising standards will improve creativity and not restrict it and keeping children home, "even for a day, is harmful to their education".
Are you keeping your child off school for the day? You can share your comments about Sats by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.Are you keeping your child off school for the day? You can share your comments about Sats by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.
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