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Weekly UpdatesByline: By NICOLA JUNCAR
TWO teaching unions are calling for Sats tests and school league tables to be scrapped.
The National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Headteachers (NAHT) are calling for this year's exams to be voluntary and for English, maths and science standards to be measured through teacher assessment.
The Government has already scrapped externally-marked Sats for 14-year-olds and a joint statement from the unions is urging the exams taken by 11-year-olds to be dropped too.
Ian Grayson, the Newcastle representative of the NUT, said: "We welcomed the Government's decision to scrap Sats tests for 14 - year-olds, as this was long overdue.
"It's just a shame they didn't scrap those for 11-year-olds at the same time. It was a missed opportunity.
"Pupils should still be assessed, but these tests would be more reliable if they were carried out by the schools themselves."
The unions believe teacher assessment should be used at all test levels from Key Stage 1, when pupils are seven, and upwards.
In a joint statement, the unions say standard tests are "narrowing the curriculum" because teachers tailor classes towards passing the exam so the school meets targets.
It adds that teachers are also likely to concentrate their efforts helping borderline pupils to achieve a higher grade so the school performs better in tables.
The statement was issued at the launch of the joint conference The Future of Assessment, held in London yesterday.
Mick Brookes, general secretary of the NAHT, added: "We are pleased the Government has moved from a position where tests and tables were not for discussion, to a position where secondary tests have been abolished and there is a review about the way children are assessed."
The move by the unions is likely to be supported by the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL)..
The ASCL also welcomed the announcement to scrap Sats tests for 14-year-olds last year and has made similar calls to drop league tables and introduce teacher assessments.
Dr John Dunford, former head-teacher at Durham Johnston Comprehensive and general secretary of the ASCL, said: "Nobody will mourn the loss of Sats tests or league tables of their results.
"This is not weakening secondary school accountability, but re-focusing on results at ages 16 and 18, which directly impact on students' future prospects.
"By concentrating on what is most important, the accountability system will be strengthened and more widely respected.
"Assessment at the end of Key Stage 3 will now be part of the normal cycle of teacher assessment from 11 to 16. It will be for heads and teachers to decide on appropriate assessment arrangements and how to report progress to parents."
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