Tests put child mental health at risk say MPs

Children's education and mental health is at risk of being harmed by 'high-stakes' testing which is used to hold primary schools to account, a cross-party committee of MPs has warned.
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The close links between school performance and national curriculum tests, known as SATs, can have a negative impact, with pupils taught a narrower curriculum, and staff simply teaching pupils to pass the tests, according to a new report by the Commons Education Committee.

It calls for a major overhaul of annual league tables, with a new system introduced that shows a school’s results over a three-year average, instead of one year.

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Committee chairman Neil Carmichael said that while schools need to be held accountable for children’s progress and achievement, action is needed to lower the stakes.

The report, which comes the week before pupils across England sit the tests, warns: “Assessment is closely linked to the accountability system in primary schools, with Key Stage 2 results used to hold schools and teachers to account on the progress and attainment of pupils.

“However, the high-stakes system can negatively impact teaching and learning, leading to narrowing of the curriculum and ‘teaching to the test’, as well as affecting teacher and pupil wellbeing.” It adds: “The stakes should be lowered at primary school in order to combat some of these negative impacts.”

A Department for Education spokeswoman said: “We will consider the recommendations of this report carefully and respond in due course. A consultation relating to primary assessment is ongoing.”

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