Report queries purpose of Sats

8:05am Tuesday 5th August 2008

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THE purpose of national testing in schools is now more about “proving” that standards have risen, rather than gauging whether they actually have, research published today suggests.

Nine out of ten secondary teachers believe national curriculum tests (Sats) for 11- year-olds do not reflect their true abilities, according to a study by think tank Civitas.

It found a “notable proportion”

of pupils were entering secondary schools with key stage two levels, which are determined by the tests, that are “artificially inflated” because teachers had coached them.

In total, 79 per cent of teachers taking year seven classes in maths, English or science, felt that up to a third of their pupils had abilities that were lower than those shown by their test results.

Report author Anastasia de Waal said: “The key stage two Sats have become little more than ‘vanity testing’, ‘proof’ for the Government of rising standards in primary schools which the consumers of these results – secondary schools – aren’t buying.”

The findings show “inflated”

test results have meant secondary schools are retesting pupils on entry to year seven.

Ms de Waal said: “It’s very demoralising for pupils to realise they’re not at the level they thought they were.”

She said the solution was not to scrap national testing, but to test pupils randomly.

A Department for Children Schools and Families spokesman said the survey was not representative of all teachers’ views, and could not be used to draw ‘‘statistically robust’’ conclusions.

‘‘Standards in our schools are rising, and we do not accept that this is the result of teaching to the test,” he said.

‘‘Evidence from inspections has shown that the quality of teaching has improved alongside improvements in test and examination results.’’ The survey questioned 107 secondary schools between July 8 and 24.