While key stage two Sats "could be greatly improved", scrapping them entirely would "do away with objective testing for the whole of the primary sector", Nick Seaton, chairman of the Campaign for Real Education, has said, in news that might be of interest to primary teachers.
"Performance in primary schools would become a secret garden again, like it was before the tests were introduced about 15 years ago," Mr Seaton explained.
His comments came after a report by the Independent said that local authorities expect more than 4,000 schools across England to boycott this term's year six SATs after members of the National Union of Teachers and National Association of Head Teachers voted in favour of industrial action.
Mr Seaton accused the unions of "using the children as political pawns" and said parental support for the move was limited.
"It's vital that parents and everyone else can independently judge the performance of primary schools," he concluded.
Posted by Theo Foulds
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