ATL

ATL comment on Conservative plans to move SATs tests from primary to secondary school

Commenting on Tory proposals for moving testing from last year primary to first year secondary schools Dr Mary Bousted, ATL general secretary, said:

"The Tories' proposals are akin to moving deckchairs on the Titanic. Moving tests from the end of primary to the beginning of secondary school makes little difference to pupils or their parents. The test burden is not reduced with all that means for a restricted curriculum and teaching to the test.

"The skills and abilities pupils will need for personal fulfilment and economic success in the 21st century cannot be developed in a schooling system dominated by a test culture.

"We need fewer tests, a more exciting and engaging curriculum, and new forms of assessment which support real learning - none of which are addressed by these proposals."

Notes to editors:

1. The Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) is an independent, registered trade union and professional association, representing approximately 160,000 teachers, headteachers, lecturers and support staff in maintained and independent nurseries, schools, sixth form, tertiary and further education colleges in the United Kingdom.
2. ATL exists to help members, as their careers develop, through first-rate research, advice, information and legal advice.
3. ATL is affiliated to the Trades Union Congress (TUC), Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU), European Trade Union Committee for Education (ETUCE) and Education International (EI). The union is a member of the social partnership - working with the UK government, employers and other unions on education issues. ATL is not affiliated to any political party and seeks to work constructively with all the main political parties.