Statement Agreed by Teachers at LATE Conference on 30th November 2002

SATs at Key Stages 1 ,2 & 3

We are concerned about the current domination of the curriculum at Key Stages 1, 2 & 3 by SATs. We do not believe that SATs benefit children. They take up a lot of valuable teaching time and do not provide teachers, children or parents with useful information about pupils' progress. Teachers are more than capable of making professional assessments about a child's progress - and all teachers use tests, in the right place and at the right time, to help them make these judgements.

The increasing status given to SATs results through league tables and performance management is encouraging teachers to teach to the tests. There is a real danger that the curriculum will become increasingly narrow and the experience of children severely limited.

We call upon the government to abolish SATs at Key Stages 1, 2 & 3 in favour of a system of properly moderated teacher assessment. We call for the abolition of the league tables which have done so much damage to our children's education.

We call on teacher unions and professional associations to organise a national boycott of these tests.

We call on colleagues not to work as markers for the SATs.

KS3 English SATs

We have the following urgent concerns about the recent changes to KS3 English SATs:

1. Once again changes are being introduced far too hastily. Our preparations for the tests have been based on the statutory National Curriculum but the new testing format appears to be based on the non-statutory National Literacy Strategy.

2. We have only received sample test papers and mark schemes in November, i.e. after the beginning of the academic year in which pupils will sit the new tests.

3. We do not feel that we have been properly consulted about the changes.

4. We do not see the changes as being at all helpful in developing confident, competent readers and writers. There is an over-emphasis on a knowledge of linguistic terminology and an unwelcome fragmented approach to assessing pupils' reading and writing.

If you agree with this statement please print it, sign it and return it to LATE at 20 Vanbrugh Hill London SE3 7UF.

Please also pass it on to as many colleagues as possible and make your views known to Headteachers, governors, parents, MPs and the media.