LONDON — Thousands of children missed national Sats tests on Monday as headteachers from schools across England staged a boycott aimed at scuppering primary school league tables.
Around 600,000 10 to 11 year-old schoolchildren were due to take the first test on Monday but those at schools who opted not to administer them will not be tested.
Sats tests, which are only taken in England, include papers in reading, writing, spelling and maths for primary schoolchildren.
The results are used to create performance tables -- a key measure used by government inspectors to judge schools.
The boycott, which was voted for by two teachers' unions last month, has gained support in 30 percent of schools in some areas and more than 70 percent in others, according to the National Union of Teachers (NUT).
"We have categorically got enough schools involved to scupper the league tables," said Christine Blower, the general secretary of the NUT.
"We would like no child to be doing Sats tomorrow, but that won't be the case - some will be doing the tests."
Many teachers believe the national tests cause unnecessary stress and are bad for children, teachers and education.
Some argue the league tables they create undermine the work of schools and give an inaccurate picture of a child's achievements.
"What we are saying is parents, governors and teachers all feel that league tables do not help to give a proper picture of what a school does," said Blower.
She insisted there was no downside to the boycott and that it would not affect schoolchildren who will still be attending school and taking part in normal lessons.
On May 2, Schools Secretary Ed Balls issued a plea for headteachers not to take part in the boycott, defending league tables by saying parents and children need to know how their schools are performing.
Both Labour and the Conservatives have insisted that Sats should not be scrapped, and both the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have pledged to reform the tests.
AFP
