Portsmouth teacher and National Education Union representative welcomes scrapping of SATs

NEWS that this year’s SAT’s have been cancelled has been welcomed by Portsmouth teacher and former president of the National Education Union (NEU) Amanda Martin.
Portsmouth teacher and former National Education Union president Amanda Martin has welcomed the decision to scrap this year's SAT's.

Picture: Russell Sach PhotographyPortsmouth teacher and former National Education Union president Amanda Martin has welcomed the decision to scrap this year's SAT's.

Picture: Russell Sach Photography
Portsmouth teacher and former National Education Union president Amanda Martin has welcomed the decision to scrap this year's SAT's. Picture: Russell Sach Photography

While much of the focus has been on the education secretary’s announcement that GCSE and A-level exams would no longer take place, the government has also confirmed that Year 6 pupils will not be expected to sit Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) – the assessment taken by pupils at the end of primary school education.

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Confirming the news Gavin Williamson said: ‘Although exams are the fairest way we have of assessing what a student knows, the impact of this pandemic now means that it is not possible to have these exams this year.’

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Responding to the decision, primary school teacher Ms Martin said: ‘Teachers and parents will be relieved that Gavin Williamson has faced up to reality and cancelled this year's SATs tests. With the pressures of SATs lifted, schools will have some space to address the urgent issues of educational recovery. ‘Pupils are going to need long-term support for their learning.’

Ms Martin, along with the NEU, hopes the decision can provide the catalyst for relooking at the appropriateness of exams as a form of assessment for primary school children.

She added: ‘A curriculum driven by tests was never the way to do this. Now is the time to encourage and resource schools to develop a rich and engaging curriculum.’

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