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Teachers warn about optional test Teachers decry optional testing
(about 2 hours later)
Children should not have to sit "optional" school tests if teachers think them unnecessary, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has said.Children should not have to sit "optional" school tests if teachers think them unnecessary, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) has said.
Acting head Christine Blower said voluntary should mean just that and teachers' judgements should be final.Acting head Christine Blower said voluntary should mean just that and teachers' judgements should be final.
Most English secondary schools have ordered optional Sats tests for Year 9 pupils even though the government has scrapped the mandatory ones.Most English secondary schools have ordered optional Sats tests for Year 9 pupils even though the government has scrapped the mandatory ones.
Ministers say GCSEs are enough to reflect secondary school performance.Ministers say GCSEs are enough to reflect secondary school performance.
On Saturday the NUT's annual conference in Cardiff voted unanimously to ballot members on a boycott of the Sats national curriculum tests next year if the government does not scrap them.On Saturday the NUT's annual conference in Cardiff voted unanimously to ballot members on a boycott of the Sats national curriculum tests next year if the government does not scrap them.
In a question-and-answer session, teacher Neil Fisher said in his secondary school in Lewes, East Sussex, newly-arrived children were tested even though they had just been tested in their primary schools.In a question-and-answer session, teacher Neil Fisher said in his secondary school in Lewes, East Sussex, newly-arrived children were tested even though they had just been tested in their primary schools.
'Creeping process''Creeping process'
The results of those Sats at the end of primary schooling in England form the basis of the school league tables.The results of those Sats at the end of primary schooling in England form the basis of the school league tables.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls ended compulsory Key Stage 3 tests for Year 9 (14-year-olds) last autumn following the fiasco over marking delays - but not the primary school tests.Schools Secretary Ed Balls ended compulsory Key Stage 3 tests for Year 9 (14-year-olds) last autumn following the fiasco over marking delays - but not the primary school tests.
They [teachers] need the strength of the national union to say 'In my professional judgement we shouldn't be doing them' Christine Blower, NUT acting head Schools keep testing 14-year-olds They [teachers] need the strength of the national union to say 'In my professional judgement we shouldn't be doing them' Christine Blower, NUT acting head Schools keep testing 14-year-olds
Mr Fisher said that in his school Year 9 children - having been told they would no longer face testing - were going to be subject to optional Sats.Mr Fisher said that in his school Year 9 children - having been told they would no longer face testing - were going to be subject to optional Sats.
He raised the prospect of "some creeping process by which local authorities will begin to ask for the results of 'optional' tests".He raised the prospect of "some creeping process by which local authorities will begin to ask for the results of 'optional' tests".
Last week the BBC News website revealed how many secondary schools will be using the non-statutory tests which the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) still produces in English and maths.Last week the BBC News website revealed how many secondary schools will be using the non-statutory tests which the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (QCA) still produces in English and maths.
A total of 3,283 have ordered packs of tests for children to take next month - even though they no longer have to - compared with 4,186 last year when the tests were mandatory.A total of 3,283 have ordered packs of tests for children to take next month - even though they no longer have to - compared with 4,186 last year when the tests were mandatory.
Some 15,000 primary and secondary schools have also ordered optional tests for children in Years 3, 4 and 5, 7 and 8.Some 15,000 primary and secondary schools have also ordered optional tests for children in Years 3, 4 and 5, 7 and 8.
'Not necessary''Not necessary'
When he scrapped the Key Stage 3 tests, Mr Balls told MPs that GCSEs and A-levels would be sufficient to show the performance of secondary schools.When he scrapped the Key Stage 3 tests, Mr Balls told MPs that GCSEs and A-levels would be sufficient to show the performance of secondary schools.
Ms Blower told her conference that if Mr Balls did not think the tests were necessary, neither did she.Ms Blower told her conference that if Mr Balls did not think the tests were necessary, neither did she.
"We are in danger of treating the word 'voluntary' in the same way that Ofsted treats the word 'satisfactory'," she said."We are in danger of treating the word 'voluntary' in the same way that Ofsted treats the word 'satisfactory'," she said.
To the annoyance of teachers, Ofsted, the education inspectorate in England, regards "satisfactory" as meaning "not good enough".To the annoyance of teachers, Ofsted, the education inspectorate in England, regards "satisfactory" as meaning "not good enough".
Ms Blower said it should be a matter of teachers' professional judgements how their pupils were assessed.Ms Blower said it should be a matter of teachers' professional judgements how their pupils were assessed.
But an individual teacher had a problem if their head teacher was telling them to administer the tests.But an individual teacher had a problem if their head teacher was telling them to administer the tests.
Ms Blower said: "They need the strength of the national union to say, 'In my professional judgement we shouldn't be doing them'.Ms Blower said: "They need the strength of the national union to say, 'In my professional judgement we shouldn't be doing them'.
"Voluntary means voluntary, it doesn't mean 'voluntary but perhaps we will make you do them'.""Voluntary means voluntary, it doesn't mean 'voluntary but perhaps we will make you do them'."
Schools routinely subject children to a battery of bought-in tests, partly produced by the QCA and partly by outside organisations such as nferNelson and the Durham University CEM unit.Schools routinely subject children to a battery of bought-in tests, partly produced by the QCA and partly by outside organisations such as nferNelson and the Durham University CEM unit.
These come under an array of names such as Alis, Ye11is, MidYis, InCas, Pips and Cats.These come under an array of names such as Alis, Ye11is, MidYis, InCas, Pips and Cats.