The recent shenanigans in south London (page 4) have an air of farce. But they highlight a serious point. Key stage 2 testing is now a high-stakes exercise.
Primary schools' reputations - and those of local education authorities increasingly depend on performance tables. With the Government setting demanding targets, some heads, teachers, and even LEA officers, become convinced that their careers hinge on these scores.
The irony, of course, is that key stage 2 test results seem to be of little or no interest to secondary schools. We also know that although primary schools' "rankings" are taken very seriously, they can be affected by pupil absence, children changing schools, the different ability levels of year groups, and perhaps even the pollen count.
A better sense of perspective is badly needed.
