IMMEDIATE RELEASE 27 February 2003
Commenting on the speech to be made tonight(Thursday 27 February) by David Bell, HM Chief Inspector of Schools, DougMcAvoy, NUT General Secretary, said:
We hear the voice of sanity at last. MrBells analysis echoes the findings of our survey of teachers andheadteachers views.
He is absolutely right that innovation andreform are inhibited by teachers being forced by the targets to teach to thetest. Even the literacy and numeracy strategies are being endangered by theGovernments own unrealistic targets.
Mr Bells warnings of an impendingidentikit curriculum are coming true now as teachers are forced to tunneleverything they do into meeting the Governments targets.
Mr Bell should join the Union in callingon the Government to abandon the system of targets.
EN D PR16/03