Minister warn against comparing tougher testing of 11-year-olds with previous results

The Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities Nicky Morgan MP.

The results from key stage two standard assessments tests (Sats) will be published this morning showing how 11-year-old pupils have done being tested under a new “tougher” curriculum.

If results are worse than previous years both Mrs Morgan and leading teachers have said this does not mean pupils are performing less well.

Mrs Morgan said: “It wouldn’t mean children have performed any worse this year; simply that we have raised the bar on what counts as good enough.

“Neither schools nor parents should try to compare this year’s results with previous years. The tests are new and are based on a new, more rigorous national curriculum - based on the best evidence from across the world.”

The National Association of Head Teachers has said that today’s data is “not fit for publication” because of the problems and challenges faced by schools as the new tests were brought in.

Russell Hobby, the general secretary of the NAHT says: “These results cannot and must not be compared to data from previous years. If they are, they will give a misleading picture of school performance. Children who sat key stage two Sats this year are the first to be tested on the new National Curriculum.

!They have only had two years to master a curriculum which should normally be taught over a four year period. The government is proud to say this new curriculum is harder than in previous years, but seemingly happy to put these children at an automatic disadvantage.

“Added to this, the government has made serious mistakes in the planning and implementation of SATs this year, with delays and confusion in the guidance materials.”

According to a statement on the Department for Education website, the figures published today will be national ones, rather than results of individual schools.

The data will show national figures such as the percentage of pupils in England achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and mathematics and the average score being achieved in these subjects and in grammar, punctuation and spelling.