Responding to constituents' concern about SATs and league tables in schools, Caroline Lucas MP has this week written to the Minister of State for Schools, Mr Nick Gibb, MP.
In the letter, she expressed that:
"I have long backed the abolition of external SATs exams and also agree with my constituents that that league tables in their current form are unhelpful. League tables give an over-inflated impression of schools with a higher ability intake and this in turn can contribute towards problems with admissions.
"I share the view of the constituents who have contacted me that a combination of self assessment, sampling and teacher assessment is the best way to ensure children progress educationally. There is currently too much emphasis on national tests and fulfilling marking schemes. This puts unnecessary pressure on children and means teaching and learning are too often dominated by meeting targets and ticking boxes (both for teachers and pupils)."