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Press Release

Review of testing

5 November 2010

Commenting on today's launch of an external Review of Key Stage 2 testing chaired by Lord Bew, Christine Blower, general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, the largest teachers' union, said;

"We welcome this review. It is encouraging that the government has recognised that we need an alternative to the present assessment regime. However, it is regrettable that practising classroom teachers are not represented on the panel.

"For too long children's education has been blighted by an assessment regime which limits the curriculum and encourages teaching to the test. We need assessment that is meaningful, more accurate and focuses on what children can do, and arises from teaching activity making it manageable in terms of teacher workload.

"League tables are responsible for the pressure on teachers to teach to the Key Stage 2 tests and are one of the main barriers to improving teaching and learning for all children. If the league tables did not make the tests so high-stakes, schools would not have to focus so much on preparing for them. Getting rid of league tables would at a stroke avoid the risk of 'perverse incentives' and over-rehearsing which the government says it is seeking to do.

"If the government's aim is to close the attainment gap, the NUT applauds that.

"The NUT is firmly in favour of a system in which league tables have gone and schools are properly accountable to parents, carers and pupils through manageable teacher assessment."



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National Union of Teachers

National Union of Teachers

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