Chaos and confusion in primary assessment revealed as parents take children out of school - Lucy Powell
  • Since September the Department for Education (DfE) has published, updated or clarified on average at least one primary assessment document or resource on average every other working day.  
  • Cancelling Key Stage 1 SATs spelling and grammar test because it was put online early; 
  • Nicky Morgan changed the SATs floor target performance measures at the weekend, just days before primary SATs tests are due to start
  • Tory failure undermining the confidence parents and teachers have in assessment regime

Lucy Powell MP, Labour’s Shadow Education Secretary, commenting on the findings said:

“This government is creating chaos and confusion in primary assessment in schools, with a huge number of changes to SATs specifications since children started school last September. This is on top of the calamity of putting the Key Stage 1 Spelling and Grammar test online early, forcing the paper to be cancelled, rendering the work of children, teachers and parents null and void.

“Ongoing assessment is really important to help teachers and parents support their children’s education and to close any gaps in knowledge so all children can do well at school. However, the way this government has handled the assessment regime means that parents and teachers are lacking confidence in school tests and the assessment system is being undermined.

“Whilst I don’t condone children being taken out of school, the blame for the lack of confidence we are seeing in these tests lies firmly with this Tory Government and Education Ministers, who have ridden roughshod over the concerns of head teachers and parents over the constant chopping and changing of the exam and assessment system.”

Ends

Notes to editors

·         Since the start of the academic year, there have been 82 primary assessment documents published, updated or clarified on the Standards and Testing Agency (part of the Department for Education) website. These include publications or changes made to resources regarding Key Stage 1 and 2 and baseline assessments. Over half (44) have been made since the start of March.

STA, Latest documents, 29 April 2016, https://www.gov.uk/government/latest?departments%5B%5D=standards-and-testing-agency

·         There have been 168 working days since the start of the academic year (34 weeks). This means that since September the DfE has published, updated or clarified on average at least one primary assessment document or resource every other working day.

·         In the Government’s response to the workload challenge they promised there would be a minimum lead-in time of one year for significant changes to qualifications.

“The Department will introduce a minimum lead-in time of one year for significant changes it makes to accountability, qualifications or the curriculum.”

DfE, Government response to the Workload Challenge, February 2015, https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/415874/Government_Response_to_the_Workload_Challenge.pdf