Teachers association votes to boycott primary tests

The Association of Teachers and Lecturers has voted in favour of looking into shunning all primary assessment.

At the union’s conference in Liverpool on 12 April, a motion calling on the ATL’s executive to “explore a possible boycott of all tests at primary level” was backed by 96 per cent of delegates.

This is despite proposals to scrap key stage 1 SATs and replace them with a new baseline test for reception children.

Union activists remain unconvinced by the proposals and believe their is a lack of action over tests for older pupils.

Jean Roberts, a member of ATL, said although teachers needed to “make our voice heard” in the government’s consultation and say no to “already failed baseline assessment being brought back“, she has concerns about the lack of a mention of key stage 2 SATs.