Page last updated at 08:19 GMT, Tuesday, 13 May 2008 09:19 UK

Tests 'damaging' to school system

The report by MPs challenges the use of national tests The national testing system in English schools is being misused to the detriment of children's education, says a report from a committee of MPs. The Commons schools, children and families committee says teachers spend too much time "teaching to the test". "The inappropriate use of national testing could lead to damaging consequences," warns the report. Schools Minister Jim Knight welcomed MPs' recognition that the "principle of national testing is sound". With hundreds of thousands of 11-year-olds in England taking "Sats" tests this week, the select committee report warns that the tests are being used in a way that does not benefit children or the schools system. New type of test "In an effort to drive up national standards, too much emphasis has been placed on a single set of tests and this has been to the detriment of some aspects of the curriculum and some students," says committee chairman Barry Sheerman. TESTING FIGURES Pupils in England on average take 70 national tests while at school 54,000 examiners employed in national tests 25 million test papers each year Source: GTC School tests around the UK While supporting the idea of national tests, the report from MPs says that an "over-emphasis" on their results can distort how children are taught and "children's access to a balanced education is being compromised". It also criticises the "single-level tests" which are being piloted as a possible alternative. These tests, taken when teachers think pupils are ready to go up a level, are likely to perpetuate the drawbacks of the Sats test, such as narrowing the curriculum, suggests the report. And it warns that the single-level tests' "one-way ratchet" system will lead to an "artificial" improvement in results, in which pupils will be "certified to have achieved a level of knowledge and understanding which they do not in truth possess". The report calls for a reform of the school performance tables, which for primary schools are based on the national test results. It suggests that accountability should be based on a wider range of measures, including Ofsted reports. Diplomas For secondary pupils, the committee adds its voice to calls for "greater clarity" about the introduction of the new Diploma qualifications. Barry Sheerman says too much emphasis is put on national tests In particular, it urges the government to explain its intentions for the Diploma and other secondary school exams, such as A-levels and GCSEs. Schools Minister Jim Knight defended the use of national tests as part of the process of assessing progress for pupils, schools and the education system. "Along with teachers' own judgements and Ofsted reports, tests are a tool which help pupils and their parents to understand how well they are doing, help parents and teachers to understand how well their school is doing, and help the public to scrutinise the performance of the schools system. "That's why they are here to stay. Parents don't want to go back to a world where the achievements of schools are hidden from them." Mr Knight was asked on the Today programme on BBC Radio Four whether pupils were being put under too much stress at too early an age. "If you don't have the tests at 11 and 14 then there's a danger that children then hit the very high stakes, high stress of GCSEs across the whole curriculum - not just English, maths and science - and the preparation that they get through sitting these Sats at 11 and 14 is in that respect good for them even though it might be a slight level of stress. "And we would say to schools that if you can manage that to reduce the amount of pressure on pupils then that is what you should be doing." 'Disapproval' But Christine Blower, acting general secretary of the National Union of Teachers, said the report identified the "poisonous effects of testing". "The government now stands isolated on the future of national curriculum testing. It has steadfastly resisted the mounting evidence of the damage caused by the tests to the curriculum and children's learning," said Ms Blower. John Dunford, leader of the ASCL head teachers' union, said that the government should now "finally take seriously this groundswell of disapproval of the current testing regime". "The original purpose of examinations, to assess students' progress, has become confused with school accountability and the performance management of teachers," said Dr Dunford. The heads' union calls for random sampling to monitor standards, rather than targets based on national tests.