Teachers set to boycott Sats tests

Primary schhol teachers are set to boycott Sats
12 April 2012

Tens of thousands of primary school children are expected to miss their Sats as a boycott of the tests kicks off across the country.

Rising numbers of schools in England have confirmed they will be joining a boycott, with headteachers at more than 1,000 schools already informing their local authorities they will not be administering the tests. In some areas, all schools are taking part, and in others more than half plan to take action.

Many more are expected to take part in the boycott, but have not told their councils.

The industrial action was confirmed by the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) last month after ballots of their leadership members showed support. It is now down to individual heads, deputies and assistant heads to decide whether to take part.

A survey conducted by the Press Association shows that currently, in 37 local authorities alone, an estimated 1,010 schools have already said they will be boycotting the tests. More are understood to be still considering what action to take.

Ahead of the boycott, the NUT is holding an "anti-Sats picnic" in central London, which it said would be a celebration of reading.

The unions have raised concerns that Sats do not put enough emphasis on reading of whole books. Author Alan Gibbons was due to attend, with children urged to bring their favourite books.

The boycott was expected to be the first battle a new government would have to face, but with a hung Parliament following Thursday's General Election, it is highly unlikely there will now be a last-ditch attempt by politicians to get it called off.

Union leaders have previously accused Labour's Schools Secretary Ed Balls and the Department for Children, Schools and Families of putting pressure on heads not to boycott.

The unions - which together represent around 80% of primary school heads - argue that the tests are bad for children, teachers and education, cause unnecessary stress and lead to the creation of league tables which undermine the work of schools and heads.

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