The National Association for the Teaching of English is concerned about the reliability of key stage tests.
In one school 40 per cent of pupils got level 5 or above in the KS3 test last year but 90 per cent did this year. This might not have been so bad if English teachers hadn’t felt this Year 9 was marginally weaker than last.
At KS2 there is evidence of able pupils being under-rewarded.
Rather than this discredited assessment system, we believe English teachers’ judgments should carry more weight. Anyone wishing to participate in the debate over tests and the English curriculum should visit www.nate.org.uk
Simon Wrigley Vice-chair, NATE 50 Broadfield Road Sheffield
