Portsmouth teacher and National Education Union representative welcomes scrapping of SATs
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.
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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Hide AdResponding 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.’
SEE ALSO: Portsmouth headteachers plead with parents to only send children to school if ‘you really need to’
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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