Ed Balls says schools should conceal test dates

Schools shouldn't tell pupils when they're being tested for their SATs according to the Schools Secretary Ed Balls. In an interview with the New Statesmen the minister said he didn't hold with schools who told parents and teachers when the Key Stage 1 tests were going to be.

' I cannot believe they are doing that. They should not be doing that,' he said. 'The best head teachers will ensure that no six or seven-year-old knows they are doing SATs. If you are telling pupils in Year 2 that they are doing SATs then that’s the wrong thing. You should not be stressing the children. They don’t need to do the SATs in a sit-down environment. It’s something that can be done as part of the school day. Honestly. And there are loads of schools doing that.'

Already several head teachers have come up with reasons why children should be told. One said that knowing when SATs were taking place ensured that no parent took their children on holiday that week. Others said that it was better to be upfront and open about the testing issue.

Speaking on BBC Radio London, Raisingkids.co.uk's founder Dr Pat Spungin said: 'If the system makes teachers anxious and parents it's no surprise that kids pick up on this. The answer is not to lie or conceal but to talk to children about the testing or possibly do away with Sats entirely.'

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