Teachers may strike in fight to axe the Sats

TEACHERS moved a step closer to strike ­­action yesterday when ­union bosses revealed it is ­“ext­remely likely” they will vote to boycott Sats testing.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls Schools Secretary Ed Balls

The National Union of Teachers wants the tests for children aged seven and 11 scrapped because they say they are damaging to ­pupils and demean staff.

At the union’s annual conference in Cardiff, acting general secretary Christine Blower said continuing the tests, in English, maths and science, beyond this year is “unacceptable”.

She was confident all members would vote today to strike, despite a warning from the Government that it would be ­“unlawful”.

Schools Secretary Ed Balls said earlier this week that he had “no intention” of abolishing testing but added that it was likely the current system would be reformed before next year.

Ms Blower said: “I think it’s ext­remely likely the motion will be ­accepted. The executive has already agreed it. But we still hold out some hope we won’t have to do it.

“The announcement earlier this week that it’s not set in stone is a way forward towards that of getting rid of league tables and getting rid of testing.”

Last year’s tests were dogged by marking problems, which caused delays in results being sent out.

The Government has abolished Sats for 14-year-olds in England, but kept the tests for younger ­pupils.

Ministers say they allow parents and schools to track pupils’ progress and hundreds of thousands of 11-year-olds are preparing to sit the exams next month.

The NUT proposes to boycott tests in 2010 jointly with the ­Nat­ional Association of Head ­Teachers.

Both unions say the tests damage children’s education because teachers are forced to “teach to the test”, narrowing the curriculum.

Ms Blower said the union is not totally against testing but that ministers need to trust teachers to carry out assessments.

The Department for Schools said: “The motion calling for a boycott is irresponsible, it is unlawful and it is out of touch with what parents and teachers want.

“They should think again.”

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