The Government places considerable importance on the national Year 9 tests as they will be seen and used as performance indicators for schools and itself.
It caused me considerable consternation therefore that the tests could be opened on April 26, 1995 by any teacher teaching a Year 9 maths, English, or science group. This issue was raised with the Department for Education and we were told to treat them as we would an internal Year 8 examination. However, the rub is that the results will not be treated in the same way.
The procedure for this year allows any teacher to influence their school’s results. It is questionable as to whether this is good practice. Am I supposed to believe that this is what the Government wants in order to give the impression of high standards in its schools?
JULIE PANE
(Maths teacher)
116a Sandford Road
Chelmsford
Essex
