Teachers raise prospect of primary school testing boycott

Teachers have raised the prospect of a boycott of primary school testing, just weeks after the Government axed one of the key tests.

Delegates at the Association of Teachers and Lecturers’ (ATL) annual conference in Liverpool overwhelmingly passed a resolution raising concerns at the “increasing pressure that comes from national tests”, amid calls to “put a nail in the coffin of testing”.

They called on the ATL’s leadership to explore a possible boycott of primary level testing and to hold discussions with other unions about the action.

It comes after Education Secretary Justine Greening announced plans to scrap national curriculum tests – known as SATs – for seven-year-olds, a move aimed at “reducing the burden” of assessment on teachers and pupils.

But the conference heard that there are still concerns about testing for youngsters, including a proposed new “baseline” assessment for four and five-year-olds, and existing SATs tests for 11-year-olds (at the end of what is known as Key Stage 2).

Proposing the resolution, which was passed with 96% in favour, Jean Roberts, from Brent, north-west London, said: “Where is the mention of KS2 SATs? Those will stay in place, with the curriculum narrowed for so many pupils, as schools work to reach an ever-rising bar. Which means they are not deemed to what is called ‘below the floor’ and labelled as failing.”

She said: “This motion talks about exploring options and a possible boycott and talking to other unions about this, particularly the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT).

“A successful boycott, if agreed, needs teachers, head teachers and parents supporting it. We have heard passionate speeches about the need to get active and actually do something.

“The time has passed for moaning about the tests. The time has come to put the nail in the coffin of testing. Our children deserve better. So, conference, I urge you to support this motion.”

Michael Catty, a delegate from Hertfordshire, said: “Education in this country is in a pit and it is a pit that will get deeper and deeper. It has been dug by the twin evils of testing and league tables. Combine those two together and education doesn’t count.”

SATs tests in reading, writing and maths are held in May and it is understood that no national action by the union will take place this year.

The ATL is due to merge with the National Union of Teachers (NUT) later this year, and the NUT’s conference, due to be held in Cardiff this weekend, is likely to be closely watched to see if it takes a similar stance on primary testing.

A DfE spokeswoman said: “We want a long-term, stable and proportionate system for primary assessment that measures the progress that children make throughout their time at primary school fairly and accurately, one that recognises teachers’ professionalism in assessing their pupils, and which does not impose a disproportionate burden.

“We have worked with the teaching profession on how best to establish this and we are currently consulting on a number of proposals.”