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| Schools may try to boycott Sats | Schools may try to boycott Sats |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Head teachers and teachers in England are threatening to boycott next year's national Sats tests in primary schools. | Head teachers and teachers in England are threatening to boycott next year's national Sats tests in primary schools. |
| The National Association of Head Teachers and the NUT teaching union say the tests taken by seven and 11-year-olds damage children and schools. | The National Association of Head Teachers and the NUT teaching union say the tests taken by seven and 11-year-olds damage children and schools. |
| They want assessments by teachers instead, and an end to league tables based on the 11-year-olds' results. | They want assessments by teachers instead, and an end to league tables based on the 11-year-olds' results. |
| The government in England says the tests are important to parents and that a boycott would be "irresponsible". | The government in England says the tests are important to parents and that a boycott would be "irresponsible". |
| The threat comes as hundreds of thousands of 11-year-olds are preparing to sit tests in maths, English and science in May. | The threat comes as hundreds of thousands of 11-year-olds are preparing to sit tests in maths, English and science in May. |
| The tests are marked externally and the results are used to make up school league tables. | The tests are marked externally and the results are used to make up school league tables. |
| In a joint campaign, the NAHT and the National Union of Teachers are to ask their members at their annual conferences this spring to vote on identical motions calling for a boycott. | In a joint campaign, the NAHT and the National Union of Teachers are to ask their members at their annual conferences this spring to vote on identical motions calling for a boycott. |
| They say there is widespread anger that the tests for 11-year-olds have not been scrapped. | They say there is widespread anger that the tests for 11-year-olds have not been scrapped. |
| Other unions have not joined the call. | Other unions have not joined the call. |
| Marking fiasco | Marking fiasco |
| The NAHT and NUT say the tests damage children's education, because teachers are forced to "teach to the test", narrowing the curriculum. | The NAHT and NUT say the tests damage children's education, because teachers are forced to "teach to the test", narrowing the curriculum. |
| At the same time, teachers are "humiliated and demeaned" by the publication of the results in league tables, they say. | At the same time, teachers are "humiliated and demeaned" by the publication of the results in league tables, they say. |
| Last October Schools Secretary Ed Balls scrapped Sats tests for 14-year-olds in England after the fiasco over the marking of last years papers. But he has kept the tests for younger pupils. | Last October Schools Secretary Ed Balls scrapped Sats tests for 14-year-olds in England after the fiasco over the marking of last years papers. But he has kept the tests for younger pupils. |
| The unions - who together represent the bulk of primary school staff - will give an ultimatum to the government in their conference motions. | The unions - who together represent the bulk of primary school staff - will give an ultimatum to the government in their conference motions. |
| They say unless they are listened to, they will ballot members on boycotting next year's Sats tests. | They say unless they are listened to, they will ballot members on boycotting next year's Sats tests. |
| The ballot could take place this autumn. | The ballot could take place this autumn. |
| 'Unfair and unjust' | 'Unfair and unjust' |
| NAHT general secretary Mick Brookes said: "We've taken the case to the government, we think we've made the case, we've got most of the education community making the case with us, including governors and a considerable number of parents. | NAHT general secretary Mick Brookes said: "We've taken the case to the government, we think we've made the case, we've got most of the education community making the case with us, including governors and a considerable number of parents. |
| "We are not getting the message back we thought we would be getting about progress in changing Key Stage 2 tests in the near future." | "We are not getting the message back we thought we would be getting about progress in changing Key Stage 2 tests in the near future." |
| NUT acting general secretary Christine Blower said: "Primary schools' patience in enduring the damage caused by the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 tests has been stretched to the limit and beyond. | NUT acting general secretary Christine Blower said: "Primary schools' patience in enduring the damage caused by the Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 tests has been stretched to the limit and beyond. |
| "It is particularly unfair and unjust that the government wants primary schools to continue with the very tests that it has decided to drop in secondary schools." | "It is particularly unfair and unjust that the government wants primary schools to continue with the very tests that it has decided to drop in secondary schools." |
| "Heads have a statutory duty to administer them and any action to disrupt the smooth running of national tests would be a disappointing and irresponsible step Government spokesman | "Heads have a statutory duty to administer them and any action to disrupt the smooth running of national tests would be a disappointing and irresponsible step Government spokesman |
| The unions say the tests should be replaced with a voluntary system based on teachers' assessments. | The unions say the tests should be replaced with a voluntary system based on teachers' assessments. |
| League tables should be scrapped, they say, and there should be a system of "sampling" to enable the government to measure how pupils are achieving over time. | League tables should be scrapped, they say, and there should be a system of "sampling" to enable the government to measure how pupils are achieving over time. |
| Across the UK, school children are assessed but mainly by teachers, in schools. | Across the UK, school children are assessed but mainly by teachers, in schools. |
| The Westminster government has set up an expert group to advise on testing and assessment, which will report later in the spring. But it insists the tests are important. | The Westminster government has set up an expert group to advise on testing and assessment, which will report later in the spring. But it insists the tests are important. |
| A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "These tests are important as they allow parents to see how their children and local schools are doing. | A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families said: "These tests are important as they allow parents to see how their children and local schools are doing. |
| "Any attempt to boycott them could undermine this, and risk removing a basic right from parents. | "Any attempt to boycott them could undermine this, and risk removing a basic right from parents. |
| "Heads have a statutory duty to administer them and any action to disrupt the smooth running of national tests would be a disappointing and irresponsible step that would only serve to cause inconvenience and disruption to teachers, schools and parents." | "Heads have a statutory duty to administer them and any action to disrupt the smooth running of national tests would be a disappointing and irresponsible step that would only serve to cause inconvenience and disruption to teachers, schools and parents." |
| New approaches - based on tests assessing whether children meet a particular national curriculum level - were being piloted, he added. | New approaches - based on tests assessing whether children meet a particular national curriculum level - were being piloted, he added. |
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