5thFebruary 2022
The Government have confirmed that SATs and other statutory assessments will go ahead this year, despite the disruption faced by schools across the country. On top of this, this week’s White Paper on Levelling Up states that by 2030, 90 per cent of KS2 pupils should achieve “expected standard”.
Although league tables will not be published this year data from the tests will be available to Ofsted, LAs and MATs. This means bringing back the pressures of accountability at the worst possible time, in a huge distraction from schools’ efforts to recover from Covid.
The new target of 90% ‘success’ in SATs comes without resources and without a plan. It doubles down on the all the worst effects of statutory assessment – extra stress, more narrowing of the curriculum.
Supported by the NEU, More Than a Score is campaigning to pause statutory assessment in 2022. You can sign the MTAS petition here.
The Union-supported Primary Assessment Commission will present alternatives to statutory assessment. It begins work at the end of the month. To find out more and get involved contact primaryassessment@neu.org.uk