Statutory Assessment Tests

This House notes that the Y6 SAT reading tests on 10 May were not acceptable; notes they had a negative impact on children, left many visibly upset and made many children feel like failures because they could not finish the tests; notes SATs have a negative impact on children’s mental health and well being; further notes that children are putting themselves under immense pressure to perform well in these tests; observes that research has shown that SATs can lead to increased anxiety, stress and even depression in children; believes that SATs can be detrimental to the overall learning experience of children; further notes that SATs have been criticised by the teaching profession and parents for placing undue pressure on our children; further believes that well-designed tests should inform parents and high schools how well children are doing but that unfortunately many teachers and parents believe the current Y6 SATs arrangement fails on both measures and place undue pressure on our children; further believes that there needs to be a review of the SAT tests; and concludes that we need to find a solution to the negative impact of SATs on the mental health and well being of children.