SATs face their biggest test to date as an overwhelming 78 per cent of parents would fully support a boycott of the tests in 2010 according to a
survey by mychild.co.uk.
Parents would consider voting with their feet as many worry about the effects that the stress of the testing causes their children.
Parents are not alone in their concerns. Many headteachers and teachers do not agree with the form of testing.
In fact, the NUT and NAHT, two of the biggest education unions in the country, are planning to ask their 300,000+ collective members to refuse to take part in the tests which they say have become ?unacceptable for the future of children’s education.?
Christine Blower, the NUT’s acting general secretary, said: ?Primary schools’ patience in enduring the damage caused by the tests has been stretched to the limit, and beyond. Our deadline for the end of SATs by 2010 is reasonable, and our alternative is one that will enhance teaching and learning. Above all else, the Government needs to understand that this year’s national curriculum tests will be the last.?
This news comes as 2008 marked a chaotic year for the examinations. The test were marred by chaos this year in the marking of SATs which led to the termination of a Government contract with ETS Europe.
The key stage three SATs examinations for 14-year-olds were scrapped for secondary pupils last year. They have been replaced by school-based assessments by teachers in the early years of secondary education.
