Commenting on theSelect Committee report, Doug McAvoy, General Secretary of the National Unionof Teachers, said:
The Select Committeehas nailed the lie that constant testing and assessment raises standards. Thecurriculum is being damaged because teachers and young people are forced toconcentrate only on that which is tested and not on other vital aspects oflearning.
We have a system which relies on anoverworked teaching force marking tests and examinations scripts in addition toeverything else that is required of them.We have a system which encourages teaching to the test.
The current system isall pain and no gain. I call on CharlesClarke to commission an independent review of the current national curriculumtesting arrangements which will accompany Mike Tomlinsons current review of14-19 qualifications.
EN D S pr30.03
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