SATs are the key aim for many children in many schools, especially Primary Schools. They are EVERYTHING to the school and Government, they are NOTHING to children. What is the purpose of education, if not for the children? They are the AIR that fuels the beast of the education behemoth. They are everything that the school is held to account on, it all starts with SATs. The Headteacher by law has to put the SATs on…no child by law has to sit them.
Our children are the most tested in the world. They are tested the moments they enter school by Baseline testing in Reception and the school is held against that data. Currently, they have further national tests in Years 1, 2, 4 and 6.
Teachers must be trusted to know their job, and part of that job is to assess the ability of children. Teachers know the children best, know the level that they are working at and what they need to do next: that is what matters. That is what gets reported to parents - The whole child, not just English and Maths or Progress 8.