Primary schools are increasingly likely to give formal practice Sats papers to pupils in the first term of Year 6, according to a Teacher Tapp survey.
The number of “outstanding” primaries giving papers under exam conditions to pupils in the autumn term of Year 6 rose to 57 per cent - up from 50 per cent in 2022.
“Good” schools saw a similar rise, with 72 per cent now reporting testing pupils in formal conditions (64 per cent in 2022).
About nine in 10 schools are classed as “good” or “outstanding” by Ofsted.
Meanwhile, 72 per cent of teachers from “requires improvement” or “inadequate” schools also gave formal exam papers this term - the same proportion as two years ago.
Sats ‘don’t support pupil progress’
Teacher Tapp based its data on the most recent inspection when one-word judgements were used.
One in five “outstanding” schools said they have practised formal Sats tests more than once this term (20 per cent this year compared with 16 per cent in 2022).
Among “good”-rated schools, 23 per cent have carried out formal Sats practice tests more than once this term, up from 20 per cent two years ago.
However, schools rated “requires improvement” and “inadequate” were the most likely to report that they had tested Year 6 pupils more than once to prepare for the summer assessments, with nearly a quarter (24 per cent) now saying they had carried out more than one formal test, up from 20 per cent in 2022.
The proportion of Year 6 pupils reaching the expected standard in all three areas of reading, writing and maths in this year’s Sats exams increased slightly, but is still behind pre-Covid levels.
The polling comes after Paul Whiteman, general secretary of the NAHT school leaders’ union, warned that primary testing did not have a positive impact on pupil wellbeing or progress.
The current primary statutory assessment system, including Sats, “does not support children’s progress, foster positive mental health or encourage a broad and balanced curriculum”, he said.
Parents concerned that Sats worsen pupil wellbeing
Parents have also reported concerns that Sats have a negative impact on Year 6 wellbeing, as shown by a survey carried out by the campaign group More Than a Score.
According to polling of 1,001 parents of school-age children, some 77 per cent agreed that the tests harm the mental health of the 10- and 11-year-olds preparing for them.
Teachers told Tes of similar worries for their pupils’ wellbeing before this year’s Sats tests, which saw some school staff concerned over a “deliberately tricky” maths paper.
Some 71 per cent of respondents would not be concerned if the tests were removed, while 77 per cent believe that dropping them would make no difference to, or would improve, their child’s education.
Meanwhile, 68 per cent believe that Sats results are the wrong way to measure children’s success in primary school.
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