Why we're a nation 'preoccupied' with testing children

A new study has thrown open the debate on when children start school in England. The National Foundation for Educational Research says that having children as young as four in full-time education ' may be stressful for children'. The researchers also say that it's debatable as to whether there is any advantage in starting school so early, when many of our European counterparts begin school at a later age. 'The assumption that an early school starting age is beneficial for children's later attainment is not well supported in the research and therefore remains open to question.'

The publication of the report into school start age coincides with a second report into the level of testing in primary schools. Kathy Hall from the National University of Ireland and Kamil Ozerk from the University of Oslo compared primary school testing with school policies in 22 other countries around the world and found that: 'No other country appears to be so preoccupied with national standards.'

The National Union of Teachers general secretary Steve Sinnott told Reuters: 'Uniquely, England is a country where testing is used to police schools and control what is taught. "I call on the government to initiate a full and independent review of the impact of the current testing system on schools and on children's learning and to be prepared to dismantle a system which is long past its sell-by date.

In turn, the government defended its approach, saying; 'We make no apology for our focus on school standards.The reality is that children spend a very small percentage of their time in school being tested.'

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