The national testing system in English schools is getting misused
May 12, 2008
The national testing system in English schools is getting misused – detrimental to the children’s education – according to a just released report from a committee of MPs. The Commons schools, children & families committee states that teachers spend too much time and energy ‘teaching to the test’.
“The inappropriate usage of national testing could result in damaging consequences,” cautions the report. Jim Knight, the Schools Minister, has welcomed recognition from the MPs that the ‘principle of national testing is sound’. With several 11-year-olds in the UK taking ‘Sats’ tests this week, the select committee findings report ha warned that the tests are being utilised in a way, which does not really benefit children or the schools system.
“In an effort to drive up national standards, too much emphasis is being placed on a single set of tests; this has been to the detriment of certain aspects of the curriculum as well as some students,” states Barry Sheerman, the committee chairman. Even while supporting the concept of national tests, the report states that an ‘over-emphasis’ on their results can result in distorting the way children are taught and their access to a balanced education is rather being compromised. It also has criticised the ‘single-level tests’ being piloted as a possible alternative.
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