A headteacher has written a letter to her local MP saying the SATs tests ‘must go’ after her pupils were left in tears by the pressure. Kerry Forrester who is head of Tarporley C of E Primary School in Tarporley, Cheshire, posted her action on Twitter and urged other teachers to do the same thing.
Year 6 children are sitting the tests this week, which are statutory assessments taken by youngsters at the end of Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2. The MEN reports Ms Forrester said: “Today was not acceptable. I cannot believe what we put our 10 and 11 year old children through for the government. SATS must go. Today I have written to my MP and urge you to do the same.”
People who responded on Twitter saying their children had similar experiences with the exams this year seeming to be particularly tough. Rebecca Pain replied: “My daughter said today’s paper was horrible.”
Louise Shorney added: “They have been tough… thank you for raising this.” Angela Crompt said: “Well done for speaking out, Kerry. My son struggles and my heart breaks thinking of him sitting in these tests. They are inaccessible and age-inappropriate. Many SEND children don’t stand a chance. Ableist comes to mind. We need to fight these all the way.”
Judith McLean said: “My daughter is bright and was gutted today as she didn’t finish the paper. SATS are not a true reflection of children’s ability!!”
After watching how pupils at Tarporley C of E Primary School in Tarporley, Cheshire, reacted to the tests on Wednesday, headteacher Kerry Forrester, has written to her MP saying ‘SATs must go’. Posting it on Twitter, she said: In the letter, the head said: “Today really was my ‘road to Damascus moment’. My year 6 children, all capable readers who love reading, opened their reading test paper and were broken!
“Tears flowed from our most capable readers and stress levels rose amongst all others. For what, I found myself asking, for no other reason than to sit a test for the government DFE accountability measure.
“This was the most challenging reading test I have seen in my 29 years as a teacher and my 14 years as a headteacher.
“Since Covid we have spent time supporting our children to catch up and to believe in themselves as learners. Today saw so much of that work destroyed by a snapshot from an inappropriate test.”
She added that pupils put themselves under ‘immense pressure to perform well in these tests’, which has a negative impact on their self-esteem, confidence and mental health. Urging her MP Edward Timpson to ‘consider the evidence and take action to address this issue’, she added: “Primary school should be where we make lifelong learners, not switch children off’.
A Department for Education spokesperson said: “Key Stage 2 assessments play a vital role in understanding pupils’ progress and identifying those who may have fallen behind, so they can be provided with extra support if needed.
“It’s important that schools encourage pupils to do their best but preparing for these exams should not be at the expense of their wellbeing.”
