SATS exams boycott hits West Sussex Schools

Schools including Ferring C of E Primary, North Lancing Primary, Globe Primary in Lancing, Sompting Village Primary, Buckingham Park Primary, in Shoreham, and Glebe Primary, in Southwick have said they will not be taking part in the year six SATs next week.

Broadwater C of E First and Middle School has refused to say if it is sitting the exams, while Clapham and Patching school has said it is "following the locality line".

However, other schools are going ahead with the exams as usual.

Jonathan Grover, head teacher at Downsbrook Middle School, in Dominion Road, confirmed the school was going ahead with the exams but said changes did need to be made in the future.

He said: "We would like to see a much fairer system of assessing children.

"In the long term I think the national tests should be modified in line with guidance so we actually move away from tests and use more relevant teaching assessments."

The National Association of Head Teachers has asked members to boycott the exams, arguing it is not a fair way to assess schools.

Gail Larkin, a head teacher in Epsom and spokeswoman for the union, said: "The biggest argument is the high stakes in SAT tests and the publication of the league table.

"Schools in the most challenging areas are always in the bottom of league tables even though they may be doing the most work in their classroom."

West Sussex cabinet member for education and schools, Peter Griffiths, has said he believes teacher assessment to be the future of assessment practice in primary schools.

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