Headteachers vote to expel Michael Gove's new reading tests for primary school pupils

Blow to Education Secretary as unions refuse to co-operate with exams for six- and 11-year-olds

Headteachers are planning to boycott two new literacy tests for primary school children, throwing the future of the tests into doubt.

Delegates at the National Association of Head Teachers' conference in Harrogate voted overwhelmingly in favour of refusing to co-operate with a compulsory new test of 11-year-olds' spelling, grammar and punctuation, set to be introduced next year by Michael Gove, the Education Secretary. In addition, Russell Hobby, the union's general secretary, warned that heads would also pull the plug on a new reading test for six-year-olds next summer if there was any attempt to publish school-by-school results.

The test for 11-year-olds follows a review of the national curriculum ordered by Mr Gove last year. It will include a test of handwriting as well as spelling, grammar and punctuation. Next year more than 600,000 11-year-olds will sit the test, which will be externally marked and will be in addition to a writing test to be marked by teachers.

Tony Draper, head of Water Hall Primary School in Milton Keynes and an NAHT executive member, claimed the Government had "misled" heads over its review of testing and created a new "monster" to replace the SATs – which heads and teachers boycotted two years ago. "Let me be absolutely clear," he said. "We have no objection whatever to the teaching and learning of spelling, punctuation and grammar as part of the curriculum. It is without doubt essential to making progress in English.

"This [test], though, will cost millions of pounds to introduce – which would be better invested in learning and school improvement. It will lead to a further narrowing of the Key Stage 2 curriculum [for seven to 11-year-olds], and increased misery for Year Six students and their families." He argued that spelling, grammar and punctuation could all be assessed as part of the existing writing test, adding that it was time to say "enough ... we will not co-operate with further tests".

Helen Clegg, a member of the Bew committee, which reviewed the tests, and head of Shiremoor Primary School in Newcastle, added: "Money would be better spent on professional development for teachers in accurate and reliable assessment. There is no reason why spelling, punctuation and grammar can't be assessed internally."

On the reading test due to be taken by six-year-olds for the first time next month, Mr Hobby said: "We don't see the need for this screening check – it is inferior to what most schools do already – but if it is to happen it should be used as a genuine diagnostic test, not a stick to beat schools with."

A spokeswoman for the Department for Education said: "Too little attention has been paid to spelling and handwriting in exams over the past decade." On the test for six-year-olds, she added: "The phonics check will help identify thousands of pupils who need extra help to become good readers."

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
Top stories
News in pictures
World news in pictures
UK news in pictures
UK news in pictures
More stories
       
Independent
Travel Shop
South Africa
15 nights from only £1,899pp Find out more
Paris and the Cote d’Azur city break
Seven nights from £579pp Find out more
Seville, Granada and Malaga break
Seven nights from £549pp Find out more
iJobs Job Widget
iJobs Education

Teaching Programme Officer with Qualified Teacher Status

£28000 - £31500 per annum + benefits: Randstad Education Newcastle: Permanent ...

KS2 PPA teacher

£85 - £120 per day: Randstad Education Cheshire: KS2 teacher needed to do PPA ...

Nursery Chef Needed for Southwark Children and Family Centres

£65 - £80 per day: Randstad Education London: We are currently looking for a N...

Special Needs Teacher

£36000 - £37000 per annum: Randstad Education London: Special Needs Teacher ne...

Day In a Page

The price of pacifism: Refusing to go to war is finally being recognised as a brave act

The price of pacifism

From the Second World War refusenik to the 19-year-old Israeli, Holly Williams talks to five people who risked shame and suffering to take a stand as conscientious objector.
'It was mass hysteria': Jason Isaacs on groupies, theatre bores and snogging James Bond

Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond

To millions, Jason Isaacs is one of Harry Potter's arch enemies – but his wife prefers him as a Scottish TV detective.
Notes from a small island: Is Sealand an independent 'micronation' or an illegal fortress?

Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?

Thomas Hodgkinson spent a week at the tiny platform off the Suffolk coast to find out.
Not a bad bone: Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

Mark Hix cooks with cutlets and ribs

If you ignore cutlets and ribs, you'll risk missing out on some delicious and easy meals, says our chef.
The experts' guide to summer: From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz

The experts' guide to summer

From getting fit for the beach to recreating that Olympic buzz
Sex, drugs and fast cars: The legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing

Early glimpses of Ron Howard's film Rush suggest it will portray Hunt as a high-living lothario, with an insatiable appetite for partying.
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation when using drugs and alcohol. It was hurting my life'

Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'

The next Vanilla Ice or the next Eminem? Macklemore doesn't have a record contract – but he does have the UK's biggest-selling single of the year.
Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Don't be shy: Bill Granger's Sri Lankan recipes

Sri Lankan cuisine is light, sunny, wonderfully spiced – and so easy to cook from scratch. Just as soon as you've broken into the coconut, that is.
Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Sir James Dyson’s latest project: Cleaning up hospitals

Doctors are hailing the revamp of a Bath neonatal unit, where babies sleep more and feed better, as the model for patient care
One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

One man returns to Argentina's town that drowned

Epecuen was submerged under 10 metres of water in 1985. Now the floods have gone – and 83-year-old Pablo Novak has moved back in
The real thing? Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'

The real thing?

Historian publishes Coca Cola's 'secret formula'
Gordon Ramsey's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

Gordon Ramsay's worst nightmare: A restaurant he cannot save

The pugnacious chef finally met a shambolic restaurant he couldn't save. John Walsh on when TV makover refuseniks fight back
Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

Join Ryanair! See the world! But we're only paying you for nine months a year

Glamorous myth of the flight attendant lifestyle undermined by angry employee's claims of 'exploitation'
Braising saddles: Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it!

Braising saddles: How to cook horse meat

Did the recent furore scupper sales of horse meat? Neigh, far from it! Will Coldwell hoofs it to the kitchen.
Why bitters are back on the bar: A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails

Why bitters are back on the bar

A few little drops pack a big punch in cocktails. No wonder we're learning to love them again...