10,000 BACK END OF SATS.TEN thousand people have signed a petition calling for the end of Sats it was announced today, as industrial action over the tests moved a step closer. The petition urges the Government to abolish national curriculum standard assessment tests, known as Sats, for seven and 11-year-olds in England. It comes as the National Union of Teachers (NUT) said it is to hold an indicative ballot of members later this term over proposals to boycott next year's tests. The NUT and the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT NAHT National Association of Head Teachers (UK) ) passed resolutions at their annual conferences earlier this year proposing to take action to boycott the tests if they are not scrapped. Between them, the two unions represent a large proportion of teaching staff in primary schools. Under the indicative ballot, members will be asked if they would show support for a boycott if a solution is not found. A full ballot would still be taken at a later date. The joint NUT/NAHT petition has won the support of former children's laureate Michael Rosen. In an interview with the NUT's Teacher magazine Rosen, the author of children's books such as We're Going On A Bear Hunt, said: ''Abolish Sats - they're utterly useless and they drive children, teachers and parents nuts." The petition states: ''We, the undersigned un·der·signed adj. 1. Having signatures or a signature at the bottom or end. Used of documents. 2. Signed or having signed at the bottom or end of a document: , believe that the Westminster Government should follow the example of the Welsh Assembly Government The Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) (Welsh: Llywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru, LlCC) was firstly an executive body of the National Assembly for Wales, consisting of the First Minister and his Cabinet from 1999 to 2007. by removing statutory end of Key Stage tests at age seven and 11 in England. Further, it should recognise that unlike the tests, teacher assessment supports, not damages, children's learning.'' NUT general secretary Christine Blower said: ''I urge Ed Balls (the Children, Schools and Families Secretary) to listen to the many voices that agree with us that we must see an end to Sats.'' NAHT general secretary Mick Brookes said: ''We are determined that this year primary pupils will receive a broad and balanced curriculum, unhindered unhindered Adjective not prevented or obstructed: unhindered access Adverb without being prevented or obstructed: he was able to go about his work unhindered by the mind-numbing rehearsal of past Sats papers. A spokesman for the Department for Children, Schools and Families The Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF) is a British government department created on 28 June 2007 on the disbanding of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). It is responsible for all issues affecting people up to the age of 19 including education. said a boycott would be ''irresponsible and disruptive'' to pupils. |
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