Under the new system to be introduced in all primary schools this year, tests for seven-year-olds will continue, but schools will be given greater flexibility over how and when they are administered, and they will form part of a single overall assessment of each pupil. Currently the results of SATs in maths and English are submitted separately from teachers'
assessments.
Schools minister Stephen Twigg conceded, 'For seven-year- olds, a teacher's overall, rounded assessment of a child's progress through the year, underpinned by national tests, will provide a more accurate guide to their progress than their performance in one set of tasks and tests.'
The change follows successful pilots in 5,000 primary schools across 34 local education authorities by the Qualifications and Curriculum Authority and a vigorous campaign by heads, teachers and parents against the inflexibility of the SATs regime.
An independent evaluation of the trials by Leeds University on behalf of the QCA found that most teachers responded positively, recognising opportunities to reduce their workload and enhance their professionalism.
Early years consultant Marian Whitehead said the change would 'help teachers re-assert their professional knowledge and understanding of children'.
She added, 'It will also strengthen the position of those teaching at the Foundation Stage, where things had become distorted by the pressures from Key Stage 1. If it is more sensibly based on a teacher's judgement and there is a lower profile for these "sudden death" tests, then it gives Foundation Stage teachers more flexibility.'
But early years consultant Margaret Edgington said that although she was pleased that the Government had reduced the importance of the testing system, many people 'would like to see it go altogether - particularly the scoring system'. She said, 'More of an emphasis has been put on teachers assessing children in their own time, but they still have to carry out the assessments and there is still a levelling system.' As long as this is in place, she said, Foundation Stage teachers will be 'under pressure' to raise the levels of achievement at Key Stage 1.
A spokesperson for the National Assessment Agency, a division within the QCA that undertook the trials, said that there is 'no reason to think' that the changes should have 'any significant impact on assessment during the Foundation Stage'. She said, 'The new arrangements for Key Stage 1 assessments give schools an opportunity to build on the teacher assessment model that underpins the Foundation Stage Profile. Increasingly, the emphasis on teacher assessment in years 1 and 2 should help teachers to plan the important transition between the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1.'
David Hart, general secretary of the National Association of Headteachers, said, 'Trust has been given back to teachers.' He said the new arrangements would 'go a long way to meet the concerns of parents and teachers about excessive pressure upon pupils at such an early stage in their school lives'.
Chris Keates, acting general secretary of teachers' union NASUWT, welcomed the relaxation of the testing regime. But he warned, 'Whatever system is used, the pressure on schools, rigidity of working practices and restrictions on the exercise of teachers' professional judgement will continue while the performance league tables remain in place.'