PRIMARY REVIEW

8 February 2008

Commenting on the Primary Review’s research briefing on the Primary Curriculum and Assessment, Steve Sinnott, General Secretary of the National Union of Teachers, Europe’s largest teaching union said:

“The latest research from the Primary Review has come to some devastating conclusions about the impact of England’s testing system. Uniquely, England is a country where testing is used to police schools and control what is taught.

“When it comes to testing in England, the tail wags the dog. It is patently absurd that even the structure and content of education is shaped by the demands of the tests.

“I call on the Government to initiate a full and independent review of the impact of the current testing system on schools and on children’s learning and to be prepared to dismantle a system which is long past its sell-by date.”