PRI0032

Written evidence submitted by Chris Finn

1. Firstly I'm happy that there is an enquiry into the assessments done into Primary School learning. I've been a year 2 teacher for 9 years now and the disaster that was the SATs last academic year was a nightmare. Last year was my toughest year in teaching, due to the changes in your assessments and expectations. I know from speaking to lots of teachers, that they felt the same.

2. I think we need to ask the question “What do we want to offer our children in Primary School?” I believe we need to give the children a comfortable, calm and enjoyable approach to their learning, especially at the start of their education. Education is a long experience for us all. If you want children to continue in it, then let us spread the message that education is an enjoyable and creative experience for all to access.

3. Sadly, SATs, especially at year 2 take away everything that is good about education. It ruins a year of fun, enjoyable education and although I may be biased, I feel that year 2 is such an essential year as the children really start to grow and mature in their learning.

4. The SATs are not an essential part of assessing children. A teacher is the essential part of assessing children. The year 2 children has been with those children for a whole year and knows exactly what their needs are, what they need to work on and improve and can assess them accurately. For someone to come and say, here's a test, use this to assess the children with, is a definite no NO! It's not even accurate for using as a supporting tool for assessment.

5. I am fed up of having to comfort my year 2 children when they break down half way through a test in tears, due to them simply not coping with test conditions. And I am not prepared to waste valuable learning time throughout the year, having to prepare them for test conditions. I feel a lot of you who set these tests and want these tests, have forgotten that these children are 6 or 7. 6 or 7!!!!! That's how long they have been alive for and you want to put them through an exhaustive, demoralising test.

6. This last academic year they've got worse too. More tests – 2 maths tests, 2 reading tests, a spelling test and a grammar test. Goodness know what you were thinking of when you came up with this bizarre idea that this is the ideal way to assess year 2s.

7. You need to start relying on teacher unions, teachers and school staff to know what's right for the kids in this country. We are with them 5 days a week and know them well. We know how to assess them and we also know that SATs at this age is a ridiculous waste of time, demoralising for the kids and a complete and utter stress for teachers, children and parents.

8. If you've got any sense of what will make education great again, it’s time to scrap the SATs for good and start trusting in the teachers of this country. We are professionals. So leave the assessment to us...the professionals!

September 2016