Information For All Parents

Y6 SATs Boycott

Dear Parents/Carers,

You may have already seen and heard on the News that the NAHT and NUT have balloted their members regarding the boycotting of this year's Year 6 SATS tests.

The reasoning behind this action is the belief that the current SATs system in primary school is an unfair one that is used to create unreliable league tables, measuring how good the children in the schools are at passing tests, rather than measuring the progress they make by using appropriate, fair and accurate assessment process carried out over the year by teachers, using a range of sampling and testing methods.

After a successful majority, NAHT and NUT are asking their members to boycott KS2 SATs and we at Manford Primary School will be supporting this request.

We will therefore not be carrying out the 2010 maths and English SATs.

Because our current Y6 children have worked so hard towards SATs week we will be conducting our own end of KS2 testing in the week beginning 10th May. Thry will be conducted in the same way as in previous years but will be marked and moderated by the school's own experienced teachers (far more reliable than marking that has been provided by the Government in recent years).

The end of year report will be sent to you as usual and will contain information on your child's progress and tell you what national curriculum levels he/she has achieved.

I am confident that these levels will accurately reflect your child's level of performance- taking test results and teacher assessment into account. This information will be passed on to your child's future secondary school as normal.

I sincerely hope you support this action that we are taking are reassured that your child's Year 6 education will not disrupted. You will receive all the information about your child's attainment and progress that parents have had in the past.

The school governors have been made fully aware that Manford Primary School will be supporting this boycott.

If you have any questions please do not hestitate to contact me.

Yours sincerely,

Miss T Jacobs

Headteacher