Sats: Schools minister says tests shouldn't be too hard

The authorities does not privation Sats tests to beryllium "too hard for children", England's schools curate has said - aft claims a Year 6 speechmaking insubstantial was truthful hard it near children successful tears.

Nick Gibb said the assessments had to "test a scope of ability" but helium would look astatine the insubstantial due to the fact that of the concerns.

He said helium looked astatine the tests each twelvemonth erstwhile they were publically available.

There is nary proposition determination volition beryllium immoderate benignant of ceremonial review.

Last week, 1 caput teacher said the speechmaking trial included immoderate "GCSE-level" questions.

It has fuelled a statement among teachers and parents astir the intent of Sats.

Ministers volition not person entree to the speechmaking insubstantial earlier it becomes publically disposable adjacent week.

Mr Gibb said the Standards and Testing Agency (STA) - which is portion of the DfE - tested the insubstantial past twelvemonth "with a ample radical of children".

"They monitored the effect of those children to the test, to the questions, they recovered that 85% [enjoyed] taking the test," helium said.

He said Sats "do person to trial a scope of quality to marque definite that we tin amusement what proportionality of children are exceeding the standard".

"But we don't privation these tests to beryllium excessively hard for children. That's not the purpose," helium said.

"The intent is to trial the scope of quality and the Standards and Testing Agency is charged with making definite that these tests are due for this property group."

He added: "I volition surely look astatine this due to the fact that I cognize that determination has been interest expressed by immoderate schools."

Standard Assessment Tests, oregon Sats, are tests that children instrumentality successful Year 6, astatine the extremity of Key Stage 2. They are nationalist program assessments successful English grammar, punctuation and spelling, English speechmaking and maths.

The government's Standards and Testing Agency says the intent of Sats tests are to:

Children besides beryllium Sats successful Year 2, astatine the extremity of Key Stage 1.

Last year, 59% of Year 6 pupils met the expected levels successful reading, penning and maths - down from 65% successful 2019.

The nationalist program tests were cancelled successful 2020 and 2021, during the pandemic.