In a significant development in the UK education sector, teaching unions are advocating for substantial changes to primary school assessments. The unions are calling on the government to eliminate compulsory times tables tests and simplify grammar exams, arguing that these assessments lead to unnecessary stress among young learners.
The proposal, which will be presented to Bridget Phillipson, the Education Secretary, as part of her curriculum and assessment review, has sparked a debate about the balance between academic rigor and student well-being. This review comes six years after the introduction of times tables tests by the Conservative government in 2018, marking the first national multiplication checks since 1944.
Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the National Education Union, emphasized the need to prioritize student welfare, stating:
"put an end to high-pressure government testing"
Kebede argues that current assessments often prioritize school accountability over supporting teaching and learning, placing undue pressure on children, families, and school staff.
However, the proposed changes have faced criticism from some quarters. Nick Gibb, a former schools minister, warned that removing these tests could be detrimental to students' future prospects. Gibb argued that mastery of times tables is crucial for more advanced mathematical concepts and that explicit grammar teaching is particularly beneficial for children from disadvantaged backgrounds.
The debate reflects broader discussions about the UK's education system. Since the introduction of the National Curriculum in England in 1988 and the subsequent implementation of Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) in 1991, there have been ongoing conversations about the most effective ways to assess student progress and maintain educational standards.
It's worth noting that the current National Curriculum, introduced in 2014, has already seen significant changes in assessment methods. For instance, the abolition of National Curriculum levels in the same year and the introduction of more challenging SATs for Year 6 pupils in 2016 have reshaped the assessment landscape.
The unions' proposal comes at a time when the education sector is still adapting to recent changes. The Times Tables Check became mandatory for all Year 4 pupils in England from the 2019/20 academic year, while the new GCSE grading system (9-1) was introduced in 2017.
As the debate continues, it's clear that finding the right balance between rigorous assessment and student well-being remains a challenge. The outcome of this review could have significant implications for the future of primary education in the UK, potentially reshaping how young learners are assessed and prepared for their academic journey.