Many respondents to your recent survey who supported the retention of key stage 2 national tests (TES, April 10) would have recorded a different view if offered a choice between government testing, and testing as a helpful part of children’s work in school.
The great majority of primary teachers are happy to test using standardised, age-related measures which are much fairer and more accurate than Sats. Such tests match children’s progress against national standards and help us to meet individual needs.
Too often ministers assume that without Sats children would not be tested.
This is totally wrong. The issue is between Sats for the system and testing for children.
John Coe
General secretary
National Association for Primary Education national office
University of Leicester
Moulton College
Moulton
Northampton
