NUT criticises over-testing in schools

The National Union of Teachers’ (NUT) has accused the government of ’turning schools at all levels into exam factories’.

Christian Blower, the union’s leader, said that the ‘excessive focus on exam results is bad for pupils, bad for teachers and it is clearly the antithesis of what NUT members believe to be a good education’.

Blower made the statement at a conference in Brighton, where an emergency motion was held to call for a potential ballot to boycott the baseline KS1 and KS2 tests.

The news comes after a survey conducted by the NUT found more than 5,200 primary teachers in England believe Education Secretary Nicky Morgan should cancel the national tests, which are due to be taken next term.

Blower said: "I want to wholeheartedly congratulate the schools which chose not to put children and teachers through it and let’s encourage very many more, perhaps all, not to engage in the voluntary but unacceptable activity next academic year.

"The notion of a school readiness check is beginning to take hold in some places. This is a notion that can be a somewhat reductionist checklist covering such attributes as ‘Can hold a pencil’, ‘Can sit still on a chair’ and ‘understands the word no.

“These may all be worthwhile things to know about a rising five year old but they cannot be, as baseline couldn’t be this year, an accountability measure for schools once those children reach the age of 11.”

She added: "The issues of both the KS1 and KS2 assessment would be laughable if they weren’t so serious for our members and the children whom they teach – and, of course, the children’s parents and carers."