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Philip Pullman joins calls to scrap baseline tests for four and five-year-olds Philip Pullman joins calls to scrap baseline tests for four and five-year-olds
(about 4 hours later)
Children’s author Philip Pullman has joined leading educationalists, early years specialists and psychologists in calling for the testing of four and five-year-olds in their first weeks at primary schools to be scrapped. Children’s author Philip Pullman has joined leading educationalists, early years specialists and psychologists in calling for plans to introduce tests for four- and five-year-olds in their first weeks at primary schools to be scrapped.
The tests, known as baseline assessment, are due to be trialled in a number of schools from September and will be used to measure basic skills including children’s ability to count and recognise letters and numbers immediately when they start in reception class. They will be introduced nationally in 2016.The tests, known as baseline assessment, are due to be trialled in a number of schools from September and will be used to measure basic skills including children’s ability to count and recognise letters and numbers immediately when they start in reception class. They will be introduced nationally in 2016.
Pullman is one of 80 signatories to a letter to the Guardian which argues that the tests should be stopped because they are “statistically invalid, will formalise a testing culture from the age of four, will be used to judge teachers and schools and, most importantly, will be dangerous for children”.Pullman is one of 80 signatories to a letter to the Guardian which argues that the tests should be stopped because they are “statistically invalid, will formalise a testing culture from the age of four, will be used to judge teachers and schools and, most importantly, will be dangerous for children”.
Related: Testing times for primary school pupils and Labour’s education policies | LettersRelated: Testing times for primary school pupils and Labour’s education policies | Letters
Other signatories include author and Guardian regular Michael Rosen, psychologist and writer Penelope Leach, psychotherapist Susie Orbach, author of Toxic Childhood Sue Palmer, children’s writer John Dougherty, educational consultant Dr Richard House and consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr Felicity de Zulueta.Other signatories include author and Guardian regular Michael Rosen, psychologist and writer Penelope Leach, psychotherapist Susie Orbach, author of Toxic Childhood Sue Palmer, children’s writer John Dougherty, educational consultant Dr Richard House and consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist Dr Felicity de Zulueta.
The letter says: “We have the most over tested children in the developed world already, and the addition of the new baseline assessment will drive this test culture to an even younger age. We should not let that happen.”The letter says: “We have the most over tested children in the developed world already, and the addition of the new baseline assessment will drive this test culture to an even younger age. We should not let that happen.”
The new primary tests have already attracted considerable criticism from experts in early years education, who claim they will be unreliable and disruptive for young children getting their first experience of formal schooling.The new primary tests have already attracted considerable criticism from experts in early years education, who claim they will be unreliable and disruptive for young children getting their first experience of formal schooling.
Opponents claim the narrow checklist of basic skills and knowledge the assessments will test would not take account of the different rates at which children learn and develop, with boys and those born in the summer particularly disadvantaged.Opponents claim the narrow checklist of basic skills and knowledge the assessments will test would not take account of the different rates at which children learn and develop, with boys and those born in the summer particularly disadvantaged.
Those who support the test however say it will provide teachers with an important insight into children as they start their school careers, and help track children’s progress in primary school.Those who support the test however say it will provide teachers with an important insight into children as they start their school careers, and help track children’s progress in primary school.
This year schools are volunteering for the assessment and are being given the choice of six different commercial providers of reception baseline assessment. They have to sign up the end of next month to take part in the early trial. This year schools are volunteering for the assessment and are being given the choice of six different commercial providers of reception baseline assessment. They need to sign up by the end of next month to take part in the early trial.
The new baseline tests will be debated at the National Union of Teachers annual conference on Saturday, where the first motion on the agenda calls for a different vision for primary education. Delegates will be asked to vote on a possible boycott of the tests.The new baseline tests will be debated at the National Union of Teachers annual conference on Saturday, where the first motion on the agenda calls for a different vision for primary education. Delegates will be asked to vote on a possible boycott of the tests.
Primary school teacher Sara Tomlinson, who as branch secretary of Lambeth NUT will move the motion, said: “Early years is like an oasis of child-centred learning where play is still a key focus.Primary school teacher Sara Tomlinson, who as branch secretary of Lambeth NUT will move the motion, said: “Early years is like an oasis of child-centred learning where play is still a key focus.
“If we bring in formal testing in the first two weeks of education, it will just destroy the last bastion of where education is fun.”“If we bring in formal testing in the first two weeks of education, it will just destroy the last bastion of where education is fun.”