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All school Sats tests 'might go' All school Sats tests 'might go'
(about 1 hour later)
Experts looking at testing in England's schools have said formal Sats tests might eventually be replaced by teachers' assessments of their pupils.Experts looking at testing in England's schools have said formal Sats tests might eventually be replaced by teachers' assessments of their pupils.
Ministers have agreed to the group's findings, which include scrapping science Sats taken by 10 and 11-year-olds from next year. Ministers have agreed to the group's immediate findings, which include scrapping science Sats taken by 10 and 11-year-olds from next year.
Instead, teachers will assess pupils. English and maths tests stay for now.Instead, teachers will assess pupils. English and maths tests stay for now.
But Schools Secretary Ed Balls told the Commons they would be moved next year from May to June. Schools Secretary Ed Balls said in the Commons that they would be moved next year from May to June.
He told MPs the government accepted the immediate recommendations from the expert group asked to report on England's system of assessing pupils.
AssessmentsAssessments
The experts endorse new, single level tests for English and maths - but say they do need the third year of piloting they are about to get. The experts endorse new, single level tests for English and maths - but say they need more piloting.
They are seen as "a potential alternative to the current tests" - including being used in school league tables.They are seen as "a potential alternative to the current tests" - including being used in school league tables.
A statement from the group also said: "The government should continue to invest in, strengthen and monitor the reliability of teacher assessment to judge whether a move away from externally marked national tests might be viable at a future date".A statement from the group also said: "The government should continue to invest in, strengthen and monitor the reliability of teacher assessment to judge whether a move away from externally marked national tests might be viable at a future date".
At a news conference, members of the group of educationists and head teachers were asked repeatedly whether they stood by this statement and to clarify what it meant.At a news conference, members of the group of educationists and head teachers were asked repeatedly whether they stood by this statement and to clarify what it meant.
They said they did stand by it.They said they did stand by it.
One, Jim Rose - author of last week's report on the primary curriculum - said: "If you had a situation where teacher assessment was so robust you were confident that the information it was delivering was as good as or better than national tests, my God wouldn't you go for it?"One, Jim Rose - author of last week's report on the primary curriculum - said: "If you had a situation where teacher assessment was so robust you were confident that the information it was delivering was as good as or better than national tests, my God wouldn't you go for it?"
Another, primary head teacher Gill Mills, said schools were using tests anyway so she did not think there would ever be an "either/or" situation.
'Reliability issue'
But Ms Mills suggested the Key Stage 1 tests in reading, writing and maths taken by children aged six and seven provided a model.
Administered informally as part of lessons when teachers choose, and marked by teachers, the results are moderated externally but not published.
She said: "That's a good example of what's happening to move towards."
But the government insists this is not likely soon.
Schools Minister Jim Knight said Key stages 1 tests involved a high workload for teachers - and there was "a reliability issue".
"We don't think moderated teacher assessment is anywhere near good enough for us to use as an accountability measure."
Boycott ballotBoycott ballot
The changes are unlikely to stop a planned ballot on a boycott of next year's Sats by two education unions. The changes that have been made are unlikely to stop a planned ballot on a boycott of next year's Sats by two education unions.
The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) oppose Sats because they say teachers are obliged to "teach to the test".The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) oppose Sats because they say teachers are obliged to "teach to the test".
They argue that the focus on the three Sats subjects in Year 6, the last year of primary school, is to the detriment of the wider curriculum. They argue that the focus on the Sats subjects is to the detriment of the wider curriculum and they oppose schools' results being published in league tables.
They are also opposed to schools' results being published in publicly available league tables.
FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programmeFROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme
The NAHT's general secretary Mick Brookes told the BBC dropping the science test would make the curriculum more narrow. The NAHT's general secretary Mick Brookes said dropping the science test would make the curriculum more narrow.
"The government has gone a third of the way. If this is what the report is going to say, we think it's going to make it worse," he said.
"Clearly if you take out the bits being tested, you are going to narrow the curriculum even more.""Clearly if you take out the bits being tested, you are going to narrow the curriculum even more."
The union would not be scrapping its plans for a ballot on Sats, he said.The union would not be scrapping its plans for a ballot on Sats, he said.
The government has warned heads they have a statutory duty to administer the tests, and a boycott would be illegal.The government has warned heads they have a statutory duty to administer the tests, and a boycott would be illegal.
The National Governors Association, which generally weelcomed the report, said the proposal that Sats be conducted later in the summer term needed to be carefully examined, as it could have unintended consequences in schools with programmes of creative or out-of-classroom activities. The National Governors Association, which generally liked the report, said the proposal that Sats be conducted later in the summer term needed to be carefully examined, as it could have unintended consequences in schools with programmes of creative or out-of-classroom activities.
Core subjectCore subject
The expert group, which is made up of head teachers and education professionals, also backed the government proposals to have "report cards" which would grade schools on behaviour and children's wellbeing, as well as test results and Ofsted reports. The expert group also backed the government's proposed "report cards" which would grade schools on behaviour and children's wellbeing, as well as test results and Ofsted reports.
SEE SCIENCE SATS PAPERSEE SCIENCE SATS PAPER
Science Sats paper A for 10 and 11-year-olds, 2008 [2.04MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe ReaderScience Sats paper A for 10 and 11-year-olds, 2008 [2.04MB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader
Download the reader hereDownload the reader here
Relying on the assessments teachers already make of their children's progress, as will now happen in science, is the pattern already established in Wales.Relying on the assessments teachers already make of their children's progress, as will now happen in science, is the pattern already established in Wales.
All the tests for 14-year-olds in England have been scrapped already following last year's marking fiasco.All the tests for 14-year-olds in England have been scrapped already following last year's marking fiasco.
But as a check on national standards, a random sample of 10,000 pupils will sit tests each year - as is done in Scotland.But as a check on national standards, a random sample of 10,000 pupils will sit tests each year - as is done in Scotland.
Single levelSingle level
Next year in a few hundred pilot schools, single level tests will replace Sats in maths, though the government is moving cautiously in introducing the new tests.
With the existing Sats, about to be taken by more than 580,000 primary school children in England, the questions cover a range of abilities so children can be scored at different levels.With the existing Sats, about to be taken by more than 580,000 primary school children in England, the questions cover a range of abilities so children can be scored at different levels.
In the new single level tests in English reading, English writing and mathematics, the questions are all pitched at a certain level of understanding. In the new single level tests being piloted in English reading, English writing and mathematics, the questions are all pitched at a certain level of understanding.
Children are entered for the relevant level when their teachers think they are ready. So they take it with others of the same ability level rather than the same age - rather like a music or dance exam. Children are entered for the relevant level when their teachers think they are ready. So they take it with others of the same ability level rather than the same age - rather like a piano exam.
Dropping science but keeping English and maths fits with Liberal Democrat policy. Liberal Democrat spokesman David Laws welcomed the proposed changes, though would go further and have more teacher assessment in English.
Spokesman David Laws welcomed the proposed change, though would go further and have more teacher assessment in English.
But shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said parents wanted clear, rigorous and transparent testing at the end of primary school.But shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said parents wanted clear, rigorous and transparent testing at the end of primary school.
"We need the most accurate possible information about how our children - and our schools are doing."
He added: "By declining to stand up to outside pressure and retreating on the principle of external assessment I fear the secretary of state has failed the test of ensuring he defends what is best for our children."He added: "By declining to stand up to outside pressure and retreating on the principle of external assessment I fear the secretary of state has failed the test of ensuring he defends what is best for our children."
Mixed reaction The science community is pleased the science test is to end.
The scrapping of the science test is no surprise, following the publication of the Rose report on England's primary school curriculum. The chief executive of the Association for Science Education, Annette Smith, said it did not assess science as it happened in primary schools - as an active, practical activity which built on children's curiosity and observation skills.
That report downgraded science from one of the three "core" subjects, alongside English and maths - replacing it with information communication technology (ICT).
The chief executive of the Association for Science Education, Annette Smith, welcomed the expected change.
She said the way the test was constructed did not assess science as it happened in primary schools - as an active, practical activity which built on children's curiosity and observation skills.
She said the science community would "fight tooth and nail" for science in the curriculum, but did not agree with the argument put by Mr Brookes.
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