National Governors' Association
Changes to the SATs regime for ten year old children
In response to the announcement made by Ed Balls in the commons today:
Clare Collins - NGA National Chair said:
"The NGA is pleased that the expert group has carefully considered the options in coming to the view that strong externally validated accountability measures should remain in order that governors and parents may judge if primary schools are effective."
Phil Revell - NGA Chief Executive said:
"Today's announcement deals with some of the concerns felt by governors on this issue; we look forward to further movement in future. We wish to see an assessment system in primary schools that delivers the accountability that government, governors and parents wish to see, but without the current pressure and stress on children."
Detailed response
The NGA is pleased that the government's expert group has carefully considered the options in its review of testing for ten year old children.
We support their view that strong externally validated accountability measures should remain in order that governors and parents may judge if primary schools are effective.
Governors will be interested that the group has determined that the KS2 English and Maths tests are good tests of children’s key skills and that these should remain as the main external accountability measure for primary schools.
NGA welcomes the proposal that the current Science test should be replaced by teacher assessment, especially if, as proposed, consistency will be ensured by a system of external moderation.
The proposal that SATs should be conducted later in the summer term needs to be carefully examined, as it could have unintended consequences in schools which currently have programmes of creative or out-of-classroom activities in this final summer half term.
THE NGA does however recognise that primary secondary transition is a major issue for schools and parents; we therefore welcome the government's focus on measures intended to smooth the transition from primary to secondary school.
NGA remains opposed to league tables; we do however support the introduction of the School Report Card and would like to see this replace league tables as a more complete measure of school effectiveness.
Notes for Editors:
- The National Governors' Association represents school governors in England; there are over 300,000 governors, the largest volunteer group in the UK.
- Governors appoint and set the pay of headteachers in all state schools
- Whilst actual delivery of the curriculum is a professional responsibility, governors are responsible for raising standards through [their] three key roles of setting strategic direction, ensuring accountability, and monitoring and evaluating school performance.
- In Academies and Foundation schools governors are the employer, in all other state schools governors have key employer responsibilities.
Contact:
Phil Revell - NGA chief executive
phil.revell@nga.org.uk
Direct Line: 0121 634 2704
Mobile: 07976 380576
Clare Collins - NGA Chair
clare.collins@nga.org.uk
Mobile: 077321 12727
Clare Collins is an experienced governor and serves on governing bodies in West Sussex