Head teacher demands SATs scrapped after pupils left in ‘tears’ and ‘broken’ over ‘challenging’ test

A primary school head teacher has demanded the SATs tests - which are taking place nationwide this week - be scrapped after her pupils were left in tears by the pressure. In a letter written to her local MP, Kerry Forrester, a head of Tarporley C of E Primary School in Cheshire, urged other teachers to do the same.

Year 6 children are currently sitting the tests, which are statutory assessments taken by children in Year 2 and Year 6 in England to check their educational progress. These tests are used to measure school performance and to make sure individual pupils have the support they need before going into secondary school.

However, the tests can put ‘undue pressure’ on children, said Ms Forrester, which can have a “significant impact on their mental health and well-being.” She wrote: “These are bright, capable children who no matter how many times we tell them not to worry they continue to pile immense pressure on themselves.

“Today (Wednesday, May 10), really was my ‘road to Damascus’ moment. My year 6 children, all capable readers who love reading, opened their reading test paper and were broken! Tears flowed from our most capable readers and stress levels rose amongst all others.”

She said the paper “was the most challenging reading test” she has seen in her 29 years as a teacher and her 14 years’ career as a head teacher. She added: “Since Covid, we have spent time supporting our children to catch up and to believe in themselves as learners. Today saw so much of that work destroyed by a snapshot from an inappropriate test.”

Ms Forrester claimed research has shown SATs can lead to “increased anxiety, stress, and even depression in children.” She said: “Moreover, SATs can also be detrimental to the overall learning experience of children.

“Instead of fostering a love for learning and encouraging creativity and critical thinking, children are being taught to memorise facts and figures for the sake of passing a test.” Her letter,