Ministers are to scrap national tests for 14-year-old school pupils in England, following this summer's Sats marking "shambles".
National tests for 14-year-old school pupils in England are to be scrapped, following this summer's Sats marking "shambles".
Children's Secretary Ed Balls said instead a system of internal teacher assessment would be used from 2009.
Children's Secretary Ed Balls said an expert group would develop a system of assessment by teachers.
But the tests taken at the end of primary school, and used for school league tables, will remain.
But the tests taken at the end of primary school by 11 year olds, and used for league tables, will remain.
A new system of report cards showing schools' academic attainment and pupil well-being is to be introduced.
A new system of report cards showing schools' academic attainment and pupil well-being is also to be introduced.
TESTS IN ENGLAND Age 5: Teacher assessment of children's all-round development Age 7: national tests in English and maths marked in school by teachersAge 11: national tests in English, maths and science marked externally and school's results published nationallyAge 14: national tests in English, maths and science, marked externally
Mr Balls said that the decision to stop Sats tests for 14 year olds was "not a u-turn" - and that the wider principle of the need for testing and accountability remained.
This is likely to be modelled on a system used by schools in New York which awards them a single grade, from A to F and attributes 85% of marks to educational attainment and 15% to other measures.
"But if you asked 'are we abolishing half of the national tests?', the answer is 'yes'," said Mr Balls.
Mr Balls told the Commons that the current testing arrangements for pupils at age 14 were "not justified" and that a more flexible system of assessment throughout Key Stage 3 would allow teachers to focus their efforts more effectively.
Report cards
He said there would be frequent reporting to parents of children in Years 7, 8 and 9, with a stronger focus on one-to-one tuition and catch up support for struggling pupils.
Mr Balls said that tests for 11 year olds would provide accountability for primary schools - and that GCSEs and A-levels would be sufficient to show the performance of secondary schools, without the need for tests at the age of 14.
But he said externally marked Key Stage national curriculum tests were essential to give parents the information they need on pupils' achievement and school performance.
TESTS IN ENGLAND Age 5: Teacher assessment of children's all-round development Age 7: national tests in English and maths marked in school by teachersAge 11: national tests in English, maths and science marked externally and school's results published nationallyAge 14: there will cease to be national tests in English, maths and science, marked externally
"To abolish those tests as some argue would be the wrong thing to do," he added.
A White Paper to be published next year will set out plans for schools to have a report card, allowing parents to have a simple run-down of the school's performance.
He also said pilots of a system of tests, designed to be used when teachers thought pupils were ready to take them, would not continue in secondary schools. They would continue to be tested in primary schools, however.
A template for this, identified by ministers, is the system used in New York where schools are awarded a grade from A to F and attributes 85% of marks to educational attainment and 15% to other measures.
Teachers, academics and MPs have been calling on the government to change the testing regime which they argue narrows teaching and damages children's education.
The timing of the decision to scrap the tests for 14 year olds - known as Key Stage 3 tests - was shaped by the problems with delivering this year's Sats tests, accepted Mr Balls.
In May, the Commons schools, children and families committee said tests were being used in a way that did not benefit children or schools, and that teachers were teaching to the test.
When the private company ETS had its contract terminated, and the search for a replacement began, he said it was recognised as an "important moment which will set the direction for the coming years".
'Complete U-turn'
MInisters decided that externally-marked tests for 14 year olds were no longer justified - and a panel of experts will be asked to come up with an alternative system of teacher assessment, with a report due by February 2009.
Problems emerged with the marking and administration of this year's national tests for 11 and 14 year olds - with the delay in marking leading to the cancelling of the contract with the independent company, ETS.
'Sigh of relief'
Ministers announced an independent inquiry, under Lord Sutherland, into what they dubbed a "shambles". It is due to report this month.
Mr Balls also promised more frequent reporting to parents of children in the first three years of secondary school, with a stronger focus on one-to-one tuition and catch up support for struggling pupils.
Mr Balls has hinted that he had plans to change the national testing system - saying that the system was "not set in stone" - but insisted that he would not make any decisions before Lord Sutherland had delivered his report.
There were widespread problems over the return of Sats papers
The abolition of tests for 14-year-olds will be welcomed by many teachers and educationalists who want to see teenagers getting a fully rounded education.
A possible alternative to the Sats for 14 year olds has already been ruled out - with pilots of single-level tests (where pupils take tests when teachers think they are ready) proving "disappointing" in secondary school and being discontinued.
Some will argue that removing the external pressure from the tests will allow teachers to concentrate more on personalised learning.
The news that Sats tests in secondary school were being scrapped was welcomed by teachers' unions, who have been longstanding critics.
Shadow Children's Secretary Michael Gove welcomed Mr Ball's change of mind and said England had fallen behind in every external measure educational performance.
Acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Christine Blower, said the announcement was an admission that the testing system had failed.
"We've argued for fewer national tests and more rigour and we want to work constructively to improve the assessment and qualifications regime."
"For too long, English, mathematics and science teachers in secondary schools have found themselves skewing everything to enable their pupils to jump through a series of unnecessary hoops," she said.
"The sound of a deep collective sigh of relief will emanate from secondary schools across the country," said Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT.
The delays in the marking of Sats tests, affecting both tests for 11 and 14 year olds, put the government under pressure through the summer, with hundreds of thousands of families seeing their results postponed.
Opposition parties seized upon the decision as a sign of the government accepting that it was time to change direction.
Liberal Democrat children's spokesman David Laws welcomed the government's "complete U-turn".
Liberal Democrat children's spokesman David Laws welcomed the government's "complete U-turn".
"The Sats tests taken by 14-year-olds are not only a waste of time but have been highly unreliable over the last few years."
"The Sats tests taken by 14-year-olds are not only a waste of time but have been highly unreliable over the last few years."
Acting general secretary of the NUT Christine Blower said the announcement was an admission that the testing system had failed.
Shadow Children's Secretary Michael Gove welcomed Mr Ball's change of mind and said England had fallen behind in every external measure educational performance.
"For too long, English, Mathematics and Science teachers in secondary schools have found themselves skewing everything to enable their pupils to jump through a series of unnecessary hoops," she said.
"We've argued for fewer national tests and more rigour and we want to work constructively to improve the assessment and qualifications regime."
The inquiry into what went wrong with the delivery of this year's Sats tests, carried out by Lord Sutherland, has still to report this autumn.
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