Our system is obsessed with league tables, turning children into data points and denying them a broad, stimulating education at key stages in their development. It puts an unnecessary burden on children, parents and teachers alike
The Government are piloting Baseline testing of all four and five-year olds to prepare for launch in September 2020.
Primary school leaders are opposed to government’s roll-out of tests for four-year-olds. 73% believe it is an unfair way to measure schools’ future progress, contradicting schools Minister Nick Gibb who thinks that Baseline is a ‘fair and accurate measure’ for assessing young children. The NEU will support schools who decide not to participate.
Heads and other primary school leaders give their views on standardised testing in primary schools. It’s time to listen to heads and change the way we assess children and judge schools.Watch and share this video.
The SATs regime is failing a generation of children. Throughout their primary school education, we put children through a system based on high-stakes testing. But surely learning is about more than getting a perfect score on a test?
NEU is a proud member of More Than A Score, a growing coalition of parents, teachers, heads and education experts, working together to call for change in the government’s over-testing regime.
Commenting on the results of a YouGov survey commissioned by More than a Score, released today, which shows the level of school leaders’ frustrations with the Government’s assessment regime, Dr Mary Bousted, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union, said:
Discuss the motion and members’ views with your headteacher and ask them to make clear that your school will not be participating in the voluntary pilot. They can confirm it here
You can also use the leaflet below to answer colleagues' questions.
Tests imposed on children at the start of their education will impact secondary schools later through league tables based on unsound data. Use this motion in secondary schools to support primary colleagues.
A teacher from one London primary school describes how staff are speaking out against Baseline for the sake of their pupils.
Baseline testing results are unreliable, as proved in two previous, abandoned trials. At four years old, children are just too young for this kind of high-stakes testing.
A look at the problems with Baseline assessment by Ken Jones, from the National Education Union.
Why teachers, parents, unions and schools need to join together and boycott baseline assessment.
Kevin Courtney, Joint General Secretary of the National Education Union comments on the announcement by Nick Gibb that the DfE will be looking for schools to take part in a pilot scheme for the proposed baseline assessment tests.
A teacher from one London primary school describes how staff are speaking out against Baseline for the sake of their pupils.
Answers to questions about Baseline for organisers and activists
