The NUT and NAHT have voted to ballot for industrial action with a view to boycotting Key Stage 2 SATs for 2010.

We are saddened that the Government has failed to respond positively, despite both organisations having put forward clear and positive alternatives to the SATs regime this year.

This action would be to frustrate the administration of SATs – it would categorically not be strike action. Children will attend school during SATs week (beginning May 10/11th), but instead of undergoing the tests they will have a normal week.

We are determined that in 2010, these test results will not be used:

• To construct meaningless league tables of school  results;
• By inspectors to pre-judge schools based on proxy data provided by the SATs;
• To humiliate and demean the work of colleagues working in our toughest communities;
• To force teachers to spend endless hours rehearsing past papers. 

We give parents an absolute guarantee that their child’s progress at the end of the primary phase will be accurately reported by schools taking part in the action. These outcomes will also be communicated to Year 7 teachers in a timely and accurate manner that does not depend on the uncertainty of waiting to receive SAT results.

Christine Blower, General Secretary of the NUT said:

“The lack of positive response from government is disappointing. We want to avoid industrial action and call upon the Government, even at this late stage, to enter into meaningful talks.”

Mick Brookes, General Secretary of the NAHT said;

“We have put forward a viable and professional alternative which would have improved the assessment process and ensured that no child leaves the primary phase with incorrect grades. The current system has resulted in thousands of children moving to the next phase of their education with misleading information about their ability. It has also led, quite unjustifiably, to schools and their communities being labelled as ‘failing’ with the consequence of damaging recruitment of Head Teachers and worsening their working environment.”