THE PRIMARY REVIEW : HOW WELL ARE WE DOING?

2 October 2007

Steve Sinnott, General Secretary National Union of Teachers Europe’s largest
Teaching union said:

“The Primary Review’s conclusion that testing does not drive up standards states the obvious.  The finding that tests narrow the curriculum just when pupils are getting ready for secondary schools is another nail in the coffin of an unsupportable assessment system.

With the publication of this report, there is now every reason to act to dismantle a testing system whose only effect seems to be to create stress for pupils and teachers.

The research on the reading strategies could have been more focussed.  The achievement of youngsters from the toughest backgrounds has undoubtedly risen since 1997 due to the hard work of teachers and the professional development they have received.

The strategies could have been more successful if teachers had felt that they could contribute to them and that their judgement was respected.”