Letter: School tests: pluses and minuses
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Sir: We are 14-year-old pupils from a comprehensive school in Gloucestershire who feel strongly about the Standard Assessment Tasks (Sats) examinations. We would like to express our views on them because we haven't seen any opinions from other pupils. We compiled a list of reasons for and against the Sats, and came up with three reasons for doing them and almost 20 against.
The reasons for doing them were as follows:
1. They might prepare us for big exams like the GCSEs; but if that is the reason, why have mock GCSEs?
2. They might give us some idea of how we're doing at school; but if that is so, what are parents' evenings, records of achievement and tests throughout the year for?
3. We might not have done the work on Shakespeare had it not been for the Sats, but we've learnt it all now and have been tested on it three times. What is the point in being tested again?
Listed below are some of the points against the Sats:
1. None of the pupils or teachers will do their best if they have watched the news lately.
2. The great majority of teachers and parents disagree with the Sats, but we still have to do them.
3. We have done all the learning for the Sats and have been tested on most of the work after each topic over the last three years. We will have to revise all this work when we could be learning new things.
4. The cost of doing these exams is enormous and if schools decide to boycott them they can be fined precious money that could be used more productively.
5. They are essentially to test the teachers and compare the schools, which seems rather unfair on us.
6. Unless the exams are carried out on all pupils, not just those who go to state schools, the results do not give a fair overall picture.
We hope this letter gives a reasonable pupil's point of view of the Sats and gives you some idea of how we feel.
Yours faithfully,
LUCY HEYWOOD
CHARLOTTE ALEXANDER
Horsley, Gloucestershire
29 April
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments