Grammar test in line to replace Sats despite ‘fudged review’ claim

The proposals, put forward in Lord Bew’s independent review of national curriculum tests, published today, are likely to ward off the threat of another boycott of Sats tests.

But one union leader dismissed the review as a “fudge”.

The review calls for the current creative writing test, which forms part of the overall English Sats exam, to be scrapped amid concerns teachers are drilling pupils to pass it, and it prevents pupils from expressing their creativity.

Instead, teachers should assess pupils’ written work throughout the year.

But the review also says the current spelling test, which makes up the other half of the exam, should be retained, and expanded to include more grammar, punctuation and vocabulary.

The review panel argued that these areas are easily marked as there are clear right and wrong answers that can be externally tested, and will help to boost standards.

It also calls for the maths and reading Sats to remain, although the latter should be refined over time.

Publishing the review, Lord Bew said he believed that the current testing and accountability system in primary schools “can be made fairer than it is now”.

Sats in English and maths are taken by 11-year-olds in their final year of primary school.

But they are highly controversial, with two teaching unions, the National Union of Teachers (NUT) and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT) boycotting last year’s tests amid concerns they are bad for pupils, teachers and parents.

The two unions have welcomed the proposals.

NAHT general secretary Russell Hobby said the union was “particularly encouraged” by the writing proposals.

NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: “On initial reading, this seems to be a step in the right direction.”

However Chris Keates, general secretary of the NASUWT union, said: “The simple and straightforward question Lord Bew was asked to look at was the relative merits of teacher assessments versus externally marked testing, whilst ensuring public confidence. However, he has ducked the issue and come up with a fudge.”

In response, Lord Bew said the review had tried to maintain standards while allowing creativity. “You can see it as a fudge or see it as a complex balance that we have to achieve in life. We have tried really hard to achieve the correct balance.”