Call to arms over SATs tests
- Published: 12 August 2008 15:47
- Last Updated: 12 August 2008 15:47
Anger over the debacle surrounding this summer's SATs results should be a rallying cry for councils, according to one lead member for schools.
Marion Clayton (Con), Buckinghamshire CC's cabinet member for achievement and learning, said she was "amazed" not to hear more unrest from councils over the late and unreliable marking of thousands of the tests.
She said that she would be happy to lead a campaign against both the exams themselves and the company currently contracted to market them - ETS Europe.
"We have got an opportunity because of this fiasco to see if this is the most effective method to test children," she said.
Cllr Clayton said she would be happy to co-ordinate such a campaign, if there was a consensus of support behind it.
At the weekend, chair of the LGA Children's Board Les Lawrence said he believed the Qualifications and Curriculum Agency chair Ken Boston should resign over the way the Key Stage Two and Key Stage Three results had been handled.
Cllr Lawrence added that the current situation raised doubts about the effectiveness of any Local Education Authority league tables for the year.
