NUT comment re Lord Bew's final report on Key Stage 2 testing
Monday, 18 July 2011 3:46 PM
Commenting on Lord Bew’s Independent Review of Key Stage 2 testing, assessment and accountability, Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union, said:
“The acceptance that there is currently far too much focus on attainment which does not always recognise the efforts which schools have made with individual pupils is certainly something to be welcomed, as is the fact that teacher assessment is an important and more accurate way of recording a pupil’s progress. It is, however,
disappointing that although teachers will be trusted with assessing writing, the Government feels the need for a separate test to be introduced for grammar and punctuation.
“If we are trusting teachers to assess writing across a range of genres, that should also include pupils’ technical writing skills. Similarly, if teachers are assessing a part of the curriculum which is arguably a far more difficult area of judging children’s learning, why keep external testing for reading and maths? Nor does it make sense that the Government believes only a sample of children needs to be tested in science, but every child must be tested in English and mathematics.
“The positive steps in this review will be undermined by keeping in place school performance tables, despite the fact that the majority of those who gave evidence called for their abolition.
“While League Tables exist, teaching to the test and a narrowing of the curriculum will remain. This will hinder some children’s learning as the incentives for schools to concentrate on “borderline” pupils will remain. The Review and the Government should have been bolder.
END
For further information contact Caroline Cowie on 0207 380 4706 or 07879480061
Caroline Cowie
NUT Press Officer
Hamilton House, Mabledon Place,
London WC1H 9BD
0207 380 4706 or 07879480061
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