Unions clash over future of Sats tests for 11-year-olds

While the National Union of Teachers (NUT) is continuing to threaten industrial action if the tests – known as Sats – are not scrapped, the NASUWT today issued a poll warning that abolishing the papers would be "reckless".

Both unions will debate the tests at their annual Easter conferences this weekend.

The NASUWT poll questioned 2,000 teachers about the impact of ending Sats tests for 14-year-olds. Schools Secretary Ed Balls scrapped these in October 2008 saying they were not needed to hold secondary schools to account.

The survey found abolishing the tests had increased teacher workloads and distracted them from teaching and learning.

In some cases, the move has led to teachers working at least 10 extra hours per class, the NASUWT found.

Many teachers are now having to administer internal tests and mark them themselves, as well as carry out their own teacher assessments of pupils.

NASUWT general secretary Chris Keates said: "The NASUWT has warned consistently that the obsessive opponents of the tests are careering down a path that will increase workload for teachers."

"It is reckless to abandon Sats without considering what will replace them."

The NUT is balloting its leadership members, including headteachers, deputies and assistant heads over a boycott.

The tests in English and maths are due to be taken by around 600,000 11-year-olds the week beginning May 10 – potentially less than a week after the country goes to the polls.

It means a boycott could be the first battle a new Government – whichever party – has to face.

A year after the NUT passed a resolution agreeing to ballot members on a boycott, a motion to be debated today says that until the tests are abolished a "pressure cooker effect" will remain in primary schools, with children under stress, a focus on performance targets, and teachers leaving the profession "because they are becoming box tickers and exam crammers, not educators."

The motion calls for the union to continue its campaign, co-ordinate action with other unions and parents, and to give advice on alternative forms of assessment.

The NUT, and the National Association of Head Teachers, which is also balloting over a boycott, want to see Sats replaced by teacher assessment. They also want to see school league tables abolished.