The school reporting and assessment system in the UK particularly for primary school children has been under intense review and scrutiny in recent years.
The government continues to review and suggest amendments to policies and processes that mean teachers, school senior management teams, parents and children are having to adapt to changes.
In October the Education secretary Justine Greening announced some policy decisions in a statement to parliament.
Here is a quick look at three of the announcements affecting primary assessment and children as they leave primary school and enter high school.
Maths and Reading Resits For Year 7 Entrants Will Not Be Imposed
There had been a consultation on plans to make year 7 pupils resit key stage 2 tests for children that failed to meet the “expected standard”
The UK government have now confirmed that this will now not be imposed, adding that the focus will now be on making sure children “catches up on lost ground”. There will be resit papers made available for teachers that wish to use them.
Key Stage 1 Spelling, Punctuation & Grammar Remains Non-Statutory
The key stage 1 spelling, punctuation and grammar tests have been controversial after the tests were leaked online and were postponed as a legal requirement. Greening confirmed in her statement that this would be extended for another year.
This will allow teachers and senior management teams to decide if the tests will be implemented in their schools.
Further Consultation On UK Primary assessment in the New Year
The announcements by Justine Greening may have been more about postponing the implementation of existing tests, however it is clear that this is up for review.
The government has announced it will continue the consultation on primary assessment an issue that is likely to continue to be a political football in the coming weeks, months and even years.
RECENT COMMENTS