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Minister faces teachers over Sats Minister faces teachers over Sats
(10 minutes later)
Schools Secretary Ed Balls has attempted to head off a showdown with England's head teachers over controversial Sats tests.Schools Secretary Ed Balls has attempted to head off a showdown with England's head teachers over controversial Sats tests.
He told heads meeting in Brighton a boycott of the tests was "not the right or responsible approach".He told heads meeting in Brighton a boycott of the tests was "not the right or responsible approach".
They are to vote on whether to ballot on boycotting next year's tests.They are to vote on whether to ballot on boycotting next year's tests.
He acknowledged league tables give only a "narrow view" of a school, and said the current assessment system "was not set in stone".He acknowledged league tables give only a "narrow view" of a school, and said the current assessment system "was not set in stone".
The heads argue the tests, taken by 11-year-olds in England, put too much pressure on children and narrow the curriculum.The heads argue the tests, taken by 11-year-olds in England, put too much pressure on children and narrow the curriculum.
Mr Balls told the conference: "I don't want children and teachers overly stressed about Sats in Year 6."
But he added: "We must ensure that parents and the public get the information they want and need about the progress of every primary age child and the performance of every primary school."
President of the National Association of Head Teachers, Chris Howard, said there would be no end to their campaign until the "tyranny of testing and league tables" was over.President of the National Association of Head Teachers, Chris Howard, said there would be no end to their campaign until the "tyranny of testing and league tables" was over.
PressurePressure
Head teachers and classroom teachers all dislike the test and most of all the league tables made from them.Head teachers and classroom teachers all dislike the test and most of all the league tables made from them.
They say teachers are forced to "teach to the test," focussing most on the three subjects tested, English, maths and science.They say teachers are forced to "teach to the test," focussing most on the three subjects tested, English, maths and science.
Children and schools are both put under too much pressure over the tests, they say.Children and schools are both put under too much pressure over the tests, they say.
In other parts of the UK, children are tested but the tests are marked in school and are not used to make league tables.In other parts of the UK, children are tested but the tests are marked in school and are not used to make league tables.
At the Naht's annual conference, Mr Howard told delegates: "There will be no conclusion to our honest and well-reasoned campaign to stop the tyranny of testing and tables for primary schools in England until they have been ended."At the Naht's annual conference, Mr Howard told delegates: "There will be no conclusion to our honest and well-reasoned campaign to stop the tyranny of testing and tables for primary schools in England until they have been ended."
And he suggested it was "high noon" for the government, which he said had promised "education, education, education", but had delivered "regulation, regulation, regulation."And he suggested it was "high noon" for the government, which he said had promised "education, education, education", but had delivered "regulation, regulation, regulation."
We don't want to ballot for industrial action. We want to work to get a better system for our children David AllenDelegateWe don't want to ballot for industrial action. We want to work to get a better system for our children David AllenDelegate
The organisation says the tests should be replaced by assessment of pupils by teachers, which already takes place.The organisation says the tests should be replaced by assessment of pupils by teachers, which already takes place.
The National Union of Teachers recently voted to ballot its members on a boycott and this will probably take place in the autumn.The National Union of Teachers recently voted to ballot its members on a boycott and this will probably take place in the autumn.
The two groups together make up most of the teaching staff in England's primary schools so a joint boycott by them could throw next year's Sats into disarray.The two groups together make up most of the teaching staff in England's primary schools so a joint boycott by them could throw next year's Sats into disarray.
Their action comes after the embarrassing shambles of this year's tests, when marking problems led to severe delays in publication of hundreds of thousands of children's test results.Their action comes after the embarrassing shambles of this year's tests, when marking problems led to severe delays in publication of hundreds of thousands of children's test results.
The government went on to scrap compulsory tests for 14-year-olds.The government went on to scrap compulsory tests for 14-year-olds.
Arriving at the conference ahead of Mr Balls' speech, many delegates voiced their opposition.Arriving at the conference ahead of Mr Balls' speech, many delegates voiced their opposition.
Martin Thacker, from Chesterfield, said: "I will attempt to keep an open mind but successive education ministers have not delivered on their promises."Martin Thacker, from Chesterfield, said: "I will attempt to keep an open mind but successive education ministers have not delivered on their promises."
Karen Brookes, a head teacher from Nottinghamshire, said she hoped Mr Balls would come with something concrete to "move forward with for next year".Karen Brookes, a head teacher from Nottinghamshire, said she hoped Mr Balls would come with something concrete to "move forward with for next year".
"The issue is not about the tests themselves, which could be used to inform a teacher's assessment, it is the league tables issue for me - what is being done with the data.""The issue is not about the tests themselves, which could be used to inform a teacher's assessment, it is the league tables issue for me - what is being done with the data."
David Allen, a head from Nottingham, said: "We don't want to ballot for industrial action. We want to work to get a better system for our children".David Allen, a head from Nottingham, said: "We don't want to ballot for industrial action. We want to work to get a better system for our children".