Over testing of pupils does not raise standards

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 16th May 2008

Andrew Aalders-Dunthorne, Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesperson for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich as well as a senior teacher at a large state primary school has today on the final day of SAT testing for eleven year olds - stated that 'the over testing of pupils - does not raise educational standards'

Thousands of children are today completing the final maths paper after a week of testing, which has taken months of careful planning and coaching. The average child will undertake 70 formal tests in their school career, and over testing is having a negative effect on staff, pupils and their parents. Children living in England are the most heavily tested pupils in the world.

"Children, and let's remember that is what they are at 11 years old ,are having huge amount of pressure put on them to reach an average level of attainment - set by the Government quango," commented Andrew.

With reports coming out regularly that show children in England, (their counterparts in every other corner of Britain have had the tests abolished or are abolishing testing for eleven year olds), are unhappy and are showing signs of stress - it is time to abolish the tests here in England as well!

Andrew concluded: "As a teacher myself, I know the importance of assessment of children to ensure that every child's educational and pastoral needs are met. But this should be undertaken by a continual and adapting process of teacher assessment based on what the child can accomplish across the curriculum and outside the curriculum and not a snap shot of an artificial situation of a few narrow subjects, during one stressed moment of a child's life."