Nursery World - Schools call for overhaul of primary school testing

Senior teachers want a 'complete review' of the way pupils are assessed as they say the current regime is ineffective and puts unnecessary stress on children.

Findings from a survey of 230 headteachers, deputy heads and primary school leaders reveal their frustrations with the Government’s ‘increasingly pressurised assessment regime’.

The YouGov survey, which was carried out on behalf of the campaign group More than a Score, shows that 93 per cent of respondents think the Government should review the current system of standardised assessment. The same number believe that policy is decided without sufficient consultation with heads or other experts.

More than eight in ten said that politicians don’t listen to the views of headteachers when making education policy.

Andy Richbell, a headteacher from Portslade, said, ‘I should be held accountable for the taxpayers’ money I spend in my school but testing each individual child isn’t an effective way of holding me to account.’

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