Published at 15:45, Wednesday, 27 January 2010

HUNDREDS of Cumbrian primary school head teachers are expected to be among thousands balloted by two leading teaching unions campaigning for an end to national tests for 11-year-olds.

blast from the past: NDA director Tony Cooper recently joined in with a session in the new Nurture Unit at Frizington Primary School. The unit was built following funding and assistance from the NDA. This official visit was not Tony’s first time at Frizington School, he actually worked there 44 years ago, as a supply teacher, after gaining a degree in Wildlife Management and while living in St Bees.

The National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) and the National Union of Teachers (NUT) this week confirmed that members will be asked to vote on industrial action.

They said they were “saddened” that the Government had not responded to their calls for the tests to be abolished even though alternatives have been proposed.

The plan is for heads and senior school leaders to boycott key stage two standard assessment tests (Sats) in English and maths, scheduled to take place this summer.

Unions and heads say that Sats have run their course and serve no purpose in helping a child’s progress.

The two organisations are determined that test results should no longer be used to construct league tables, which they say are “meaningless” and fail to give a true picture of a child’s position as they prepare to move up into secondary school.

The key stage two science test was scrapped last summer. Tests for seven and 14-year-olds, at the end of key stages one and three, have already gone.

Alan Rutter, Cumbrian NUT secretary, expects the vast majority of Cumbria’s 285-plus primary head teachers to be invited to take part. The two unions say any moves backed by members would not include a strike. Instead children would go to school as normal during Sats week in May but not sit tests.

Mr Rutter said: “No parent or child will notice any difference in schools if there is a boycott.

“Heads will not administer the tests.

“They just won’t happen in those schools that take part.”

Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk