The
school tests season is coming up, and is a cause of concern for both children
and parents. This briefing may be used as a guide to testing in the UK and the
Green Party’s opposition.
Ages are approximate : tests are taken mainly in May and many children
will not reach the age in question until later in the year.
England
Age 7 : Key Stage 1 national tests in English and maths, marked in school,
school’s results available locally.
From 2004, pilot scheme putting greater emphasis on teachers’
assessments.
Age 11 : Key
Stage 2 national tests in English, maths and science, marked externally,
school’s results published nationally.
In a few areas, tests of various types for those seeking grammar school
places, marked externally, results private.
Age 14 : Key
Stage 3 national tests in English, maths and science (and ICT from 2004),
marked externally, school’s results published nationally.
Wales
Age 11 : Key Stage 2 national tests in English (and
Welsh*), maths and science, marked externally, school’s results available
locally.
Age 14 : Key Stage 3 national tests in English (and
Welsh*), maths and science, marked externally, school’s results available
locally.
*
in schools where
Welsh is the main language of instruction.
Northern Ireland
Age 11 : Transfer tests in English (or Irish*),
maths and science and technology for those seeking grammar school places,
marked externally, results private.
Ends 2004.
Age 14 ; Key Stage 3 national tests in English (and
Irish*), maths and science, marked externally, school’s results available
locally. The exams council is proposing
to replace these with ongoing teacher assessments.
*
in schools where
Irish is the main language of instruction.
Scotland
Ages 5-14 : national tests in English and maths,
corresponding roughly to Key Stages 1 – 3 in England, Wales and Northern
Ireland. Pupils are not tested at a
specific age or stage, but “when ready” at teachers’ discretion. Marked internally, results private.
The
Scottish Executive is planning “more effective, pupil-focused assessment
procedures”.
Parents’ poll
backs school tests
A majority of parents questioned in
a poll said they backed national tests for all but the youngest children.
Three-quarters opposed national tests for seven-year-olds. Two out of three parents questioned in
England said 11 year-olds should be tested.
Call for testing
of fewer pupils
The government must “slay some
sacred cows” of testing and league tables if it is to cater for children’s
needs, a teachers’ leader has warned. Mary Bousted, general secretary of the
Association of Teachers and lecturers, said the “one size fits all” curriculum
damaged schools. “Learning through play
was being ignored, as schools focused on league tables.” She added: “A curriculum delivered through
centrally defined teaching strategies and techniques … has led to an exodus
from the profession, as teachers have become demoralised and exhausted.”
Teachers reject
boycott of tests
Teachers will not boycott next
year’s tests for seven and 11 year-olds, avoiding a threatened confrontation
with the government. A National Union of Teachers ballot failed
to generate enough support for industrial action in English schools. Although a majority of teachers who voted
supported a boycott, the turn-out was too low for action to go ahead.
The Green Party is
fundamentally against standardised tests
It
is against tests for 7-year-olds because of the pressure that this puts on
children and on schools, taking over too much time and squeezing out other
subjects from the curriculum. The tests
lead to nervously- inclined children losing confidence. These tests are worrying parents.
It
is against tests for 11-year-olds, not because some measure of progress may not
be useful, but because pressure is put on children on account of the published
league tables of results and because the testing lines children up for
admission by selective school and for placing in streams.
It
is against tests for 14-year-olds, not because a further measure of progress
may not be useful, but because further pressure is put on pupils, resulting in
GCSE courses being decided and because in some cases pupils will be advised to
leave school to attend vocational courses.
It
is against standardised tests because these inveigh against the concept of
mixed ability classes. The Green Party
prefers a more embracing, social experience for children in school, with
education less directed to private ambition and competition -
more towards rounded, personal development.
It
is against the prevailing concept of education towards materialistic ends in
its profound belief in a more harmonious and fair society and in its longing
for a better relationship with the natural world.
The Green Party is solidly against SATs.