Teacher risks her job and bans SATS '˜for the sake of the pupils'

Hundreds of thousands of ten and eleven-year-olds across the country sat the widely-contested national exams known as SATs earlier this month.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th May 2017, 18:53 BST
Updated 4th Jun 2017, 21:47 BST
Jill Wood, headteacher at Little London Primary School, Leeds, has put her job on the line after refusing to run SATS s due to the unnecessary stress the tests cause children.Jill Wood, headteacher at Little London Primary School, Leeds, has put her job on the line after refusing to run SATS s due to the unnecessary stress the tests cause children.
Jill Wood, headteacher at Little London Primary School, Leeds, has put her job on the line after refusing to run SATS s due to the unnecessary stress the tests cause children.

The Key Stage 2 Standard Assessment Tests aim to monitor children’s progress in literacy, numeracy and sciences, but they have been the subject of much controversy in recent years.

Parents and teachers argue the testing system is outdated and places too much stress and pressure on children at a young age.

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Concerns peaked last year after Keys Stage 2 English papers were leaked online and teachers reported the tough new curriculum tests had reduced children to tears.

Year 6 class teacher Simon Hall, with headteacher Jill Wood, and pupils who didn't sit this years SATS tests. Picture James Hardisty.Year 6 class teacher Simon Hall, with headteacher Jill Wood, and pupils who didn't sit this years SATS tests. Picture James Hardisty.
Year 6 class teacher Simon Hall, with headteacher Jill Wood, and pupils who didn't sit this years SATS tests. Picture James Hardisty.

Others claim standard testing is an important way of helping to ensure pupils leave school able to read and write sufficiently.

In March the Government announced plans to axe Sats for seven-year-olds and replace them with teacher assessment of four and five-year-olds.

Related topics:ParentsGovernment