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All school Sats tests 'might go' All school Sats tests 'might go'
(10 minutes 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 the immediate move to scrap science Sats taken by 10 and 11-year-olds. Ministers have agreed to the group's findings, which include scrapping science Sats taken by 10 and 11-year-olds from next next year.
Instead, teachers will assess pupils in science and checks will be made. Instead, teachers will assess pupils. English and maths tests stay for now.
Schools Secretary Ed Balls told the Commons English and maths tests next year would move from May to June. But Schools Secretary Ed Balls told the Commons they would be moved next year from May to June.
He told MPs the government accepted the recommendations from the expert group asked to report on England's system of assessing and testing pupils. He told MPs the government accepted the recommendations from the expert group asked to report on England's system of assessing pupils.
The experts endorse new, single level tests for English and maths - but say they need more piloting. 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.
A statement from the group 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". 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".
The changes are unlikely to stop a planned ballot on a boycott of next year's Sats by two education unions.The changes 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 three Sats subjects in Year 6, the last year of primary school, is to the detriment of the wider curriculum.
They are also opposed to school results being published in publicly available 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 union's general secretary Mick Brookes told the Today programme on BBC Radio Four dropping the science Sat would make the curriculum more narrow. The NAHT's general secretary Mick Brookes told the BBC 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 its going to make it worse," he said. "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.
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, 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.
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
So far it is not clear what ministers' attitudes will be towards continuing to make the test results and report cards available for league tables. 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.
From 2011 it is expected the government will rely instead on the assessments teachers already make of their children's progress in science - the pattern now established in Wales. All the tests for 14-year-olds in England have been scrapped already following last year's marking fiasco.
As a check on national standards, a random sample of 14-year-olds would 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
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 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 music or dance exam.
Dropping science but keeping English and maths would fit with Liberal Democrat policy. Dropping science but keeping English and maths fits with Liberal Democrat policy.
Spokesman David Laws welcomed the proposed change, 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.
A Tory spokesman said: "We have commissioned a review led by Sir Richard Sykes into the future of testing, assessment, examinations and qualifications and his group will report in due course. But shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said parents wanted clear, rigorous and transparent testing at the end of primary school.
"In principle we're in favour of keeping the Key Stage 2 tests [11-year-olds] though we will obviously consider carefully any specific government proposal to change them." "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."
Mixed reactionMixed reaction
The scrapping of the science test comes as no surprise, following the publication last week of the Rose report on England's primary school curriculum. The scrapping of the science test is no surprise, following the publication last week of the Rose report on England's primary school curriculum.
That report downgraded science from one of the three "core" subjects, alongside English and maths - replacing it with information communication technology (ICT).That report downgraded science from one of the three "core" subjects, alongside English and maths - replacing it with information communication technology (ICT).
Some observers have suggested that dropping the science test would take the steam out of the unions' opposition. The chief executive of the Association for Science Education, Annette Smith, welcomed the expected change.
But NAHT general secretary Mick Brookes said it would make matters worse.
"We think it's a retrograde step because it will narrow the curriculum," he said.
Downgrading it would be a throwback to the old attitude displayed by colleagues in secondary schools, "You teach 'em to read, write and add up and we'll do the rest".
But 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 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.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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