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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 scrapping science Sats taken by 10 and 11-year-olds from next next year. | 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. 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. | 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 immediate recommendations from the expert group asked to report on England's system of assessing pupils. | |
| Assessments | |
| 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 do need the third year of piloting they are about to get. |
| 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. | |
| 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 normal tests, my God wouldn't you go for it?" | |
| Boycott ballot | |
| 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 schools' 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 programme | FROM 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 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 it's 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 subject | Core 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 PAPER | SEE 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 Reader | 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 Reader |
| Download the reader here | Download 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 level | Single 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 fits 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. |
| 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." | "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 | Mixed reaction |
| The scrapping of the science test is no surprise, following the publication 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). |
| The chief executive of the Association for Science Education, Annette Smith, welcomed the expected change. | 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. |
| Are you a teacher or a parent? What is your reaction to this decision? You can send your comments using the form below: | Are you a teacher or a parent? What is your reaction to this decision? You can send your comments using the form below: |
| A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | A selection of your comments may be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions | The BBC may edit your comments and not all emails will be published. Your comments may be published on any BBC media worldwide. Terms & Conditions |