Experts looking at testing in England's schools have said formal Sats tests might eventually be replaced by teachers' assessments of their pupils.

 

Ministers have agreed to the group's immediate findings, which include scrapping science Sats taken by 10 and 11-year-olds from next year.

 

Instead, teachers will assess pupils. But English and maths tests stay, Schools Secretary Ed Balls told MPs.

 

The tests will be moved back next year from May to June.

 

Assessments

 

The experts endorse new, single level tests for English and maths - but say they need more piloting.

 

They are seen as "a potential alternative to the current tests" - including being used in school league tables.

 

A statement from the group also said: "The government should continue to invest in, strengthen and monitor the reliability of teacher assessment to judge whether a move away from externally marked national tests might be viable at a future date".

 

At a news conference, members of the group of educationists and head teachers were asked repeatedly whether they stood by this statement and to clarify what it meant.

 

They said they did stand by it.

 

One, Jim Rose - author of last week's report on the primary curriculum - said: "If you had a situation where teacher assessment was so robust you were confident that the information it was delivering was as good as or better than national tests, my God wouldn't you go for it?"

 

Another, primary head teacher Gill Mills, said schools were using tests anyway so she did not think there would ever be an "either/or" situation.

 

'Reliability issue'

 

But Ms Mills suggested the Key Stage 1 tests in reading, writing and maths taken by children aged six and seven provided a model.

 

Administered informally as part of lessons when teachers choose, and marked by teachers, the results are moderated externally but not published.

 

She said: "That's a good example of what's happening to move towards."

 

But the government insists this is not likely soon.

 

Schools Minister Jim Knight said Key stages 1 tests involved a high workload for teachers - and there was "a reliability issue".

 

"We don't think moderated teacher assessment is anywhere near good enough for us to use as an accountability measure."

 

Boycott ballot

 

The changes that have been made are unlikely to stop a planned ballot on a boycott of next year's Sats by two education unions.

 

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) oppose Sats because they say teachers are obliged to "teach to the test".

 

They argue that the focus on the Sats subjects is to the detriment of the wider curriculum and they oppose schools' results being published in league tables.

 

The NAHT's general secretary Mick Brookes said dropping the science test would make the curriculum more narrow.

 

"Clearly if you take out the bits being tested, you are going to narrow the curriculum even more."

 

The union would not be scrapping its plans for a ballot on Sats, he said.

 

The government has warned heads they have a statutory duty to administer the tests, and a boycott would be illegal.

 

The National Governors Association, which generally liked the report, said the proposal that Sats be conducted later in the summer term needed to be carefully examined, as it could have unintended consequences in schools with programmes of creative or out-of-classroom activities.

 

Core subject

 

The expert group also backed the government's proposed "report cards" which would grade schools on behaviour and children's wellbeing, as well as test results and Ofsted reports.

 

Relying on the assessments teachers already make of their children's progress, as will now happen in science, is the pattern already established in Wales.

 

All the tests for 14-year-olds in England have been scrapped already following last year's marking fiasco.

 

But as a check on national standards, a random sample of 10,000 pupils will sit tests each year - as is done in Scotland.

 

Single level

 

Next year in a few hundred pilot schools, single level tests will replace Sats in maths, though the government is moving cautiously in introducing the new tests.

 

With the existing Sats, about to be taken by more than 580,000 primary school children in England, the questions cover a range of abilities so children can be scored at different levels.

 

In the new single level tests being piloted in English reading, English writing and mathematics, the questions are all pitched at a certain level of understanding.

 

Children are entered for the relevant level when their teachers think they are ready. So they take it with others of the same ability level rather than the same age - rather like a piano exam.

 

Liberal Democrat spokesman David Laws welcomed the proposed changes, though would go further and have more teacher assessment in English.

 

But shadow children's secretary Michael Gove said parents wanted clear, rigorous and transparent testing at the end of primary school.

 

He added: "By declining to stand up to outside pressure and retreating on the principle of external assessment I fear the secretary of state has failed the test of ensuring he defends what is best for our children."

 

The science community is pleased the science test is to end.

 

The chief executive of the Association for Science Education, Annette Smith, said it did not assess science as it happened in primary schools - as an active, practical activity which built on children's curiosity and observation skills.

 

BBC

 

Quite shocking tbh.. I know the idea of scrapping it has been floating around for a while now and i can understand getting rid of the Year 2 SATs but surely the Year 6 and Year 9 SATs should remain? One, the Year 6 SATs build up to Secondary learning and pretty much makes sure that nearly everyone knows the basics and two, the Year 9 SATs set up GCSE year quite nicely. I found my GCSEs easier than my Year 9 SATs (says a lot tbh).

Let's see...

 

I think teachers' assessments will do very well with a vigilator. :thinking:

The teachers' assessment thing sounds like how exams in America work though a bit.

 

And I agree a bit on Joao that GCSEs are easier.

Only drawback is a lot of work at few times like this day. ;)

imo, ALL exams should be scrapped and replaced with continual assessment throughout the year, culminating in an end of year essay or project in whichever particular discipline is followed... Exams teach you nothing except how to pass exams, and with universities increasingly becoming continuous assessment these days, I dont think it really prepares the kids for uni life at all.... I think schools should concentrate far more on essay and report writing, group work and presentations as well.... ALL of these are far more important when you're talking about universities, exams are becoming less and less important in uni these days, with greater emphasis on essays, reports, project work and group/individual presentations....

^ In agreement with Grimly. Trying to judge a pupil's year performance on the basis of a 2 hour test...it's not exactly foolproof.

A portfolio of work built up over the year (as with GCSE Art coursework if it's still done as I remember) is a much more effective method I feel. It eliminates the "I had one bad day" element.

On the other hand it's going to make marking work a much more labour-intensive process, so the government would have to invest...

^ In agreement with Grimly. Trying to judge a pupil's year performance on the basis of a 2 hour test...it's not exactly foolproof.

 

It certainly isn't, and we've had several exam admin disasters, such as the SATs last year.... Continual Assessment is a fairer system, and if kids were told that their eventual marks were totally dependent on coursework and turning up for lessons, I reckon it would lead to less truancy as well.... In Uni, you can theoretically get chucked off a module if you miss more than two lessons or seminars....

imo, ALL exams should be scrapped and replaced with continual assessment throughout the year, culminating in an end of year essay or project in whichever particular discipline is followed... Exams teach you nothing except how to pass exams, and with universities increasingly becoming continuous assessment these days, I dont think it really prepares the kids for uni life at all.... I think schools should concentrate far more on essay and report writing, group work and presentations as well.... ALL of these are far more important when you're talking about universities, exams are becoming less and less important in uni these days, with greater emphasis on essays, reports, project work and group/individual presentations....

Totally agree. When i was in secondary school they practically spoon fed everyone the answers and work but now that i am in Sixth Form (still in the same school though), there is a HUGE gap between GCSE and A-Level. I dont think i have ever written so many essays in my life!

Also, i think we could benefit from doing the same thing that the American and Portuguese school do - To get to the year above, you must pass an end of year exam, if fail, then repeat the year. That would teach some of the benefit scroungers who wouldnt get past year 3.

I think another good idea would be to identify the kids who aren't necessarily academically inclined, but would tend to be more practical or better with their hands, and focus their education on learning a trade.. We used to have apprenticeships in this country, and a good system of Polytechnics as well, before the Tories came along and destroyed it all..... Now, we have serious skills shortages as a result.. Surely a good plumber, engineer or mechanic is just as important to society as a doctor, banker or a lawyer..... :rolleyes:

I think another good idea would be to identify the kids who aren't necessarily academically inclined, but would tend to be more practical or better with their hands, and focus their education on learning a trade.. We used to have apprenticeships in this country, and a good system of Polytechnics as well, before the Tories came along and destroyed it all..... Now, we have serious skills shortages as a result.. Surely a good plumber, engineer or mechanic is just as important to society as a doctor, banker or a lawyer..... :rolleyes:

I think Apprenticeships are still around... My mate was offered to go on an Electrician Apprenticeship but it was too late.

I think Apprenticeships are still around...

 

Well, my point was, that it should be more directed within schools Joao, that and the fact that technical colleges have all but disappeared..... They actually do this in countries such as Germany and Poland, where kids who aren't all that academic are learning a trade IN school.... Apprenticeships these days seem to be as rare as rockinghorse sh!t mate.....

 

There's an apprenticeship thing in our school. I'm not sure if I've to go there yet.

Well, my point was, that it should be more directed within schools Joao, that and the fact that technical colleges have all but disappeared..... They actually do this in countries such as Germany and Poland, where kids who aren't all that academic are learning a trade IN school.... Apprenticeships these days seem to be as rare as rockinghorse sh!t mate.....

Oh ok, i understand now, and i agree, i think Apprenticeships are one of the best things that could be added to the school system to make it better and could also help our economy :o!

Schools should certainly think about tailoring education to each pupil as opposed to trying to shove as many as kids as possible down the standard academic GCSE/A-level/Uni route. Steering certain pupils to more practical learning would I think provide encouragement for them.

Whilst the academic route is not a bad thing at all, it's clearly not for everyone.

I don't believe it.. I actually agree with Grimly.

They should at least trial this continual assessment in a region or a few schools throughout the UK.

It wouldn't harm anyone surely?

 

I also agree with Joao. I think the end of year exam is an amazing idea.

I'd love to see all the chavs repeat a year and not leave school until a year later.

I'm sure they'd soon put their heads down!

I don't believe it.. I actually agree with Grimly.

They should at least trial this continual assessment in a region or a few schools throughout the UK.

It wouldn't harm anyone surely?

 

I also agree with Joao. I think the end of year exam is an amazing idea.

I'd love to see all the chavs repeat a year and not leave school until a year later.

I'm sure they'd soon put their heads down!

 

Yep, agree with all of this tbh.... Seems like we just disagree on the music..... :lol:

 

I really think that Continual Assessment is the fairest system... I mean, with exams, you can just be a total "passenger" for the year in the classroom, but then during the exam period, so long as you can 'bluff' your way through the exam, then that's treated as a big achievment.... It's wrong.... Whereas Continual Assessment will require a continual and consistent amount of effort throughout the whole year, not just cramming for a few weeks during exams.....

 

Also its worthy to add that from this year Compulsory Education is now until the age of 18.

no more exams for me woooo (i'm too old anyway) :angry:

 

lynda :heart:

no more exams for me woooo (i'm too old anyway) :angry:

 

lynda :heart:

 

 

You've gone through the education system, and you're STILL illiterate? You've been failed.

You've gone through the education system, and you're STILL illiterate? You've been failed.

hihihihi it was many moons ago shoat! :lol:

 

lynda :heart:

To be quite frank they should scrap the year 6 SATs as when you go into year 7 there us yet another set of tests to take to see if you are in the correct set/class so what was the point in taking them in year 6?. Instea of having exams they should have the assessments like they do if you choose a BTEC or OCR subject. I done BTEC science and was assessed by coursework thoughout the many years I done it and I came out with better marks than my friend did taking the Science exams.

I think that whilst SATs aren't really useful for anything, they should be replaced with end of year exams in every subject. It helps people to learn to work under pressure, and prpares them for important exams later in life.

 

In terms of qualifications that actually matter, I think a balance between continuous assessment and exams is better than just one or the other.