Patten urges boycott rethink

(First Edition)

JOHN PATTEN, Secretary of State for Education, yesterday called on teachers to reconsider their planned boycott of national school tests. 'Testing is here to stay,' he said. Mr Patten argued that threats of a boycott were a 'damaging and unnecessary distraction' from the real issue, which was how to develop tests in a way that was of most benefit to pupils, parents and teachers.

Political commentary, page 22