Commenting on the Government’s announcement to get rid of Single Level Tests pilot and review the testing regime Christine Blower, General Secretary of the National union of Teachers, the largest teachers’ union said;

“I am pleased that Michael Gove has indicated he will conduct a review into Key Stage 2 tests; this is a long overdue step as they are clearly flawed. I urge him to take the bold step of announcing a moratorium on the Key Stage 2 SATs pending the review.
“We welcome the fact that Michael Gove has decided to end the single level test (SLT) pilot for those schools that had opted to continue with them. The NUT’s own survey* into the SLT tests  showed that there was increasing evidence they were resulting in teaching to the test twice a year and generating a great deal of unwelcome bureaucracy and cost to the school.
“The survey also showed that the majority of teachers believed that teacher assessment was the best way for parents and schools to gain meaningful and accurate reports on children’s progress.
“Teachers have for years been coping with a testing regime in primary schools which impoverishes the learning experience of children, the Government must not squander this opportunity to review the system. We need assessment that benefits first and foremost our children but also ensures that the invaluable knowledge and understanding of teachers is put to good use”.