Government has performed amazing u turn on SATs - Teather

4.21.41pm UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 8th Jan 2007

Commenting on pilot plans announced today by the Government to replace the national tests children in England take at 11 and 14 with shorter but more frequent assessments, Liberal Democrat Shadow Education Secretary, Sarah Teather MP said:

"This is an amazing U-turn. New Year is a time for fresh starts and kicking bad habits, I'm glad to see Alan Johnson prepared to ditch the damaging Labour habit of excessive testing.

"This is an admission that the cornerstone of Labour's education policy hasn't worked. The Government is finally accepting that the rigid structure of targets and national testing doesn't help pupils.

"It is essential that the Government doesn't replace one set of bureaucratic exams with another. Teachers in the classroom are best placed to continually assess the needs of their pupils.

"Teachers should concentrate on what's best for their pupils, not feel compelled to teach to national tests. If targets and testing were the way to get well educated pupils Britain would have the smartest young people in Europe.

"Ministers need to go further and also abandon the idea of league tables if we are to really see some positive change for pupils."

Applicability: this item refers to England. Due to devolution, detailed policy may be different in other areas of the UK.