NUT calls for end to SAT’s following widespread criticism

The National Union of Teachers (NUT) has called for this year’s SATs to be suspended, after a number of complaints were submitted against the system.

The teaching union made the declaration on a statement on its website, arguing that government assessment requirements, in regard to children’s writing standards, have come ‘far too late’ in the process.

It added that the detailed marking standards and the number of separate pieces of evidence required for each assessment made it ‘impossible for teachers to deliver in the few months between February and June’.

The NUT said: "These proposals add to a chaotic heap of other demands. The reporting date for teachers’ assessments has been brought forward. The 'expected standard' that children are required to meet has been pushed upwards, beyond the reach of far too many pupils. The consequences of this shift on the requirement on schools to meet floor standards have not been thought through.

"Ministers have failed the test of competence. Education Secretary Nicky Morgan's pledge to give a year's notice of substantial changes has been revealed as just a hollow promise."

The teaching unions are set to meet on the 18 February to debate a joint response to the changes.

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said: “It is disappointing to see that the NUT and the Association of Teacher and Learning (ATL) are taking this approach, which would disrupt children's education, rather than working with us constructively as other unions have.”

“The assessment framework for Key Stage 2 was published in September 2015 – the beginning of the academic year in which these assessments are due to be made. We have been clear that the exemplification materials published recently are intended to be a guide against which to assess a pupil’s standard.”