Stephanie Dearden
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Tooting
Tel: 020-7771-2551 or 07985649807
PRESS RELEASE
Friday, 2nd December 2005
League Tables Fail Pupils, Parents and Teachers
SIR-
According to League Tables published on Friday 2nd december, the number of 11-year-olds reaching the expected standard in English and Maths increased slightly this year. However, leading Head teachers are branding the system pointless and have called for it to be scrapped.
A record 79% of primary schoolchildren
achieved the expected level 4 in English - an increase of one percentage point
from last year - while 75% of pupils achieved the standard in maths, again a one
percentage point increase. But the results remain far short of the ambitious 85%
target set for both English and Maths, which ministers hope to achieve in 12
months' time.
Despite all the Government's talk, the figures show that achievement in Maths
and English is still falling short of their targets. The Government criticises
schools and teachers who miss targets, but there appear to be no consequences
for Ministers when they miss theirs.
Ministers should review the whole system of
tests and league tables in primary schools. To complement personalised learning
the Government should consider personalised testing. Pupils should take tests as
soon as they are ready rather than en masse, so they and the school are not held
back by a system designed for Whitehall, not pupils and parents.
ENDS
Stephanie Dearden
Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Tooting
Notes to editors
More: http://www.libdems.org.uk/news/league-tables-fail-pupils-parents-and-teachers-davey.html
More: http://education.guardian.co.uk/schools/story/0,5500,1655619,00.html