National Governors’ Association opposes the boycott of SATs
We are extremely disappointed that the NAHT and NUT have decided to go ahead with the boycott of this year’s SATs. The ballot turnouts were low and the percentage of headteachers who are actually in favour of this action will be even lower. Governing bodies are primarily concerned with improving outcomes for children and NGA does not believe a boycott would contribute towards this.
Given there are contradictory legal opinions, we have not yet been convinced that the action would constitute a legal trade dispute. It is hard to make the link between SATs administration and terms and conditions of employment. SATs results are just one of a number of measures used to judge headteacher performance, and as such are a performance measure and not a condition of employment.
Administering SATs is a statutory duty, and governing bodies need clear guidance about how to deal with the prospect of this duty not being undertaken. We are still awaiting this guidance from the Department of Children, Schools and Families.
NGA is concerned about what a boycott means for relationships in schools, both between the leadership teams and their staff, and the leadership team and the governing body. NGA is also concerned about the effect on children who were being prepared to take their SATs in 11 school days time. Explaining to children why this is no longer happening will be problematic and will not foster positive relationships between staff and children and their parents and carers.
The NGA supports the external assessment of children on leaving primary school, but recognises that there are issues with the current SATs regime. NGA believes that league tables are a crude and unhelpful measure of performance, but it is important that meaningful measures on school performance are published. NGA supports other methods of robust reporting to parents and prospective parents, which reflect the complexity and variety of the challenges faced by schools, and the breadth of their successes.
For more information contact:
Emma Knights, Chief Executive on 0121-237-3786 or 07967 380 576
Clare Collins, Chair, on 07732 112727
www.nga.org.uk
Notes for editors
The National Governors’ Association represents school governors in England. School governors provide strategic leadership and accountability in England’s schools. In many schools governors are the employer.
The National Governors’ Association is a registered charity, established for general public benefit, but in particular to improve the educational welfare of children by promoting high standards in schools, and raising the effectiveness of governing bodies.