Headteachers are calling for an urgent review of next year’s Sats tests due to the coronavirus crisis.
Following the news that the government is delaying the introduction of its controversial Reception baseline assessment (RBA) until 2021, school leaders have said ministers must also undertake a review of next year’s key stage 2 tests “as a matter of urgency”.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders, said it would be “wrong” for Sats to be used as a performance measure in 2021, but there “may be merit” in schools using the tests for their own checks.
“We support the decision to suspend the Reception baseline assessment for 12 months as a sensible and pragmatic response to the disruption caused by the coronavirus emergency,” he said.
Coronavirus: Should Sats take place next year?
“However, the government must also undertake a review of KS2 tests due to be taken next May as a matter of urgency.
“There may be merit in allowing schools to run them for their own checks and to support children’s transition to secondary education.
“But it would be wrong to use them for school performance tables after so much disruption and as schools focus on helping children catch up.”
He added: “In the longer term, we support the introduction of Reception baseline assessment because it better recognises the vital importance of early years education than the current system, which measures progress only from KS1 assessments, when the child is already halfway through their primary education.
“But we still need to see KS2 tests reformed to make them fairer on children and fairer on schools.”
Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union the NAHT, also supported the postponement of the RBA.
He added that there is potential for “further disruption” to the 2020-21 academic year.
“This delay could mean that the removal of KS1 statutory assessments is also put back,” he said.
“We would urge government to consider how this could still happen to the planned timescales, reducing the amount of statutory tests and assessments which take place in the primary years overall.”
